Right Group to Police IG: Cautions Your Officers against Intimidation, Biasness

By Ranmilowo Ojalumo

The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), has called on the Nigeria Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to caution Nigeria police officers against intimidation, exploitation and harassment of innocent citizens and to as well avoid favoritism and biasness against anyone.

The group made this call at a press conference on Sunday in Lagos against the backdrop of an alleged unlawful detention of a man identified as Mr Asimiyu Suraju, a widower and father of twins in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, who was allegedly detained for about 11 weeks by police without being charged to court.

The right group is demanding that the Nigeria Police force should tender unreserved apology to Mr. Suraju Asimiyu (Baba Ibeji), with compensation for unlawfully detaining him for period of 11 weeks without trial or proper investigation.

The group is also sending the signal to police IG against the backdrop of an alleged case of police intimidation, favoritism and biasness against one Chief Mrs Dorcas Adeyinka, a Nigerian-born British citizen, the chief executive officer of Dorcas Adeyinka Empowerment Foundation, who the police allegedly declared wanted without following due process of invitation and investigation.

CHSR is also calling on IG Egbetokun, to use his good office to step down the WANTED order on Dorcas Adeyinka, so as to avail her opportunity to honor Police invite without being harassed or embarrassed.

While speaking at the press conference, the National President of the group, comrade Alex Omotehinse explained that Mr. Asimiyu Suraju, a widower and father of twins cried to the right group office to register a complaint against a cyber space influencer, one Mrs. Tolulope Odegbami (Olowosibi), who is allegedly using her relationship and connection with a senior Police officer to get him arrested and unlawfully detained.

He noted that Suraju was arrested on Saturday, April 20th, 2024 at his resident in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, by men of Nigeria police force from Ifo Police Division in Ogun State, adding that his arrest was in connection with alleged murder of his wife, Mrs Foluso Asimiyu, who died on Friday, April, 19 2024, after a brief illness at Ota General Hospital, Ogun State.

He said “after spending thirteen days (13) at IFO Police division without investigation, instead of taking him to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Eleweiran Abeokuta, he was transferred to Police Force Headquarters Luis Edet House Abuja, where he was detained for over 65 days at Maitama Police Division Abuja, without access to his families nor trial.

According to Omotehinse, based on the account gave by Suraju, trouble started for him and his family when one Madam Jokotade helped the family to seek for funds based on the family financial challenges and she raised a five hundred thousand naira, which she intended to use to help in ameliorating their challenges, but to their surprise, few days later, Mrs. Tolulope Odegbami (Olowosibi) visited them and said Madam Jokotade have short changed and cheated them on funds raised on behalf of the family.

She also claimed to have come to put smile and succor to the family financial status but ended up inflicting more pains on the family. The Suraju family, according to Omotenhinse, claimed that Mrs. Tolulope Odegbami (Olowosibi) had allegedly gotten Suraju arrested and detained more than four times in different police detention facilities through trump-up charges to avail her the opportunity to be in custody of his wife and the twins, which she eventually achieved, based on her connections to top police officers.

He explained that Asimiyu Suraju family has suffered a lot; hence, Mr. Taofeek Asimiyu (elder brother to Baba Ibeji) called on Dorcas Adeyinka Foundation live program for assistance to ameliorate the pains and sufferings of his younger brother Mr. Suraju Asimiyu family, who was then passing through psychological trauma based on the torture allegedly inflicted on him by Mrs. Tolulope Odegbami.

He added that Chief Dorcas Adeyinka eventually intervened by getting the family a befitting mini flat apartment fully furnished and equipped with a monthly allowance for feeding. Mr. Taofeek Asimiyu said it became surprising to the family when they heard that it was Chief Mrs. Dorcas Adeyinka, whom they have never met before was accused as the Murderer of late Mrs. Foluso Asimiyu (Iya Ibeji).

Omotehinse said the right group later received and investigated a Save Our Soul complaint letter from Dorcas Adeyinka Empowerment Foundation and following careful review of the petition, and subsequent findings, it discovered an orchestrated ploy to trample on the rights to freedom with regards to false murder allegations, illegal displaying of nude images, conspiracy to indict, and the mishandling of the Nigeria Police Force in declaring Adeyinka WANTED.

He added that the police did not follow due process of recourse to the less privileged and suffering Nigerian masses which Adeyinka foundation are on daily basis taking-off the street to boost the economy growth of the country.

He noted Adeyinka was invited by Nigeria Police force to Abuja headquarters for investigation, which she hnoured in person and agreed by all parties that further engagement will be communicated to them by the police but in shocking turn of events, the Nigeria Police Force allegedly declared her WANTED without proper notification or due process, as enshrined in the Police acts, code of conduct and ethics.

Omotehinse said “anybody being declared wanted by the police or any other security agency, such person is subjected to serious danger as he or she cannot walk freely on the street as such a person integrity and personality is already dented as a criminal. It means he or she can be arrested by anybody or be shot by any security personnel, because such a person must have committed a serious crime against the state.

“The CHSR as a right group that believed in equity and rule of law, wish to inform IGP. Kayode Egbetokun that the issue of Madam Dorcas Adeyinka that was declared wanted by the police is a clear case of some Social Media influencers fighting themselves in a battle for a reason best known to all parties and also can be seen as a battle of supremacy that resulted to insulting and calling each other unprinted names, whereby some have family or friend relationship with some senior police officers than another, as it is on record that the other party are boasting day in day out on their Facebook shows that they have what it takes to deal with Adeyinka”.

CHSR therefore demand that “The inspector general of police should institute an investigating team to look into all the allegations of Mr. Suraju Asimiyu (Baba Ibeji) against Mrs. Tolulope Odegbami (Olowosibi). The IGP should create an avenue to checkmate the act of abuse of office by police officers influenced by individuals against their perceived enemy.

“We demand to know the process, method and durations of serving a suspect within the state, outside the state and outstide the country a police invitation letter before declaring the suspect wanted. We demand in the public interest that, the Nigeria Police Force, through the office of FPPRO should address and enlighten Nigerians the process then what and what one will do that can lead to him or her been declare wanted.

“For avoidance of being partisan and to see justice serve, the IGP should use his good office to step down the WANTED order on Dorcas Adeyinka to avail her opportunity to honor Police invite without being harass or embarrass. We hereby demand that the Nigeria Police force should tender its unreserved apology to Mr. Suraju Asimiyu (Baba Ibeji) with compensation for unlawfully detaining him for period of 11 weeks without trial or proper investigation”.