The Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has called on the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to caution the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu over the illegal and indiscriminate arrest of innocent citizens of the State, saying that what the Police tagged as general raiding in recent time, were just over-zealousness.
It stated that the call became imperative over the illegal arrest of one Mr. Oladipo Dada, a casual worker with the State Ministry of Environment, during the purported and barbaric overzealous activities of the men of Nigeria Police in the State tagged “General Raiding” of the innocent citizens of the State.
The group that condemned the illegal and unlawful arrest of Mr. Oladipo Dada on his way back home on Monday evening by the Police, following Governor Sanwo-Olu personally arrested of three suspected arm robbers that nearly snatched a car from the owner at Ojota area of the State on Monday.
It was learnt that Mr. Oladipo Dada was illegally arrested by the men of Alakuko Divisional Police Station and unlawfully detained till the time of filing this report without allowing his family members to see him, particularly, his brother, Mr. Kayode Dada, the action that contrary to section 35 of the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Information at the CHRSJ disposal was that Oladipo Dada has been treated like a common criminal by transferred to different police stations in the last 48 hours, instead of being granted bail or charge to Court, but the fear had gripped Alakuko Divisional Police Station because Oladipo Dada did not commit any offence that could warrant being charged to Court, adding that, Oladipo Dada has been finally transferred to the State Command of the Police in Ikeja.
CHRSJ further alleged that CP Odumosu directed his men to be engaged in general purported raiding of the entire State to douse the tension of Governor Sanwo-Olu personally arrested arm robbers on Monday this week in the State, at Force Headquarters in Abuja, adding that Odumosu also began undemocratic and unconstitutional raiding in the State on Monday evening, to impress Governor Sanwo-Olu that he is working so as not to recommend him for removal as Lagos State Police boss.
It would be recalled that the Centre (CHRSJ) had earlier called for immediate removal of Mr. Hakeem Odumosu by the Police authority in the country, over the illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and undemocratic arrest and detained of innocent citizens of the State beyond the constitutionally stipulated time, by allowing criminals to have free day across the length and breadth of the State.
Reacting to the development through a signed statement, the CHRSJ’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi Alimi Sulaiman and copies were made available to newsmen on Wednesday, noted that Odumosu had shown a high level of incompetence and negligence of duty against the rules and regulations guiding the Police officer in the land.
The rights activist added that CP Odumosu was not happy with the recently passed bill by the State House of Assembly, banning illegal parading of suspects without guilty in the Court of competent jurisdiction, commending the State House of Assembly led by Rt. Honourable Mudasiru Obasa for saving the future of the innocent citizens of the State from destruction by the security agents after they might have discharged and acquitted by the law Court.
Sulaiman who doubles as Convener, Save Lagos Group (SLG), insisted that the Police authority in the country should remove CP Hakeem Odumosu from the State or be transferred to Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Niger and the Benue States where they are having serious security challenges as Super Cops, adding that CP Odumosu had committed many sins against the innocent citizens of the State since assumption of office as Lagos Police boss.
He also recalled how CP Odumosu and the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Prince Muyiwa Adejobi, ignored distress calls put to them when a harmless woman, Mrs. Funmilayo Ibikunle-Akanni at Agboyi-Ketu area of the State was attacked by Soldiers and thugs on Friday 2nd of April, 2021, adding that Odumosu also shows lackadaisical attitude and dereliction of duty on a matter involving Lagos based Car dealer, Mallam Mustapha Abdulfatai, which necessitated a CHRSJ Petition Letter dated 8th day of June, 2020, against Police Inspector (Daniel) of Bode Thomas Police Station, one Bolaji (claiming to be a cousin of Femi Gbajabiamila) of Surulere, Abubakar Ibrahim of Iponri Estate and their driver, adding that instead of the CP Odumosu to direct his men to do the needful by conducting thorough investigation into the matter, they just turned the matter against the complainant(Mallam Mustapha Abdulfatai) and Editor of the Security News Media House, because one of the defendants claimed to be Cousin of Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.
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