Often times, Nigerians prefer to settle issues or disputes without police involvement. The reason is quite simple. Many people seem to have lost whatever trust they had in the force.
This is because from time to time, unpleasant reports involving officers of the force surface on the internet.
In fact, Nigerians are now used to these reports. It no longer strikes many as a surprise.
This unpleasant report has gradually become a norm, causing great damage to the reputation of the force.
Who would ever think that a lawyer who went to bail his client would only end up in a police cell.
Even top-ranking officials of the force are not pleased that such a thing happened.
Now, the Lagos Commissioner of Police has ordered the removal of a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) because of this uncanny issue.
The Order
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Adegoke Fayoade, ordered the removal of the DPO of Gowon Estate Division for detaining a lawyer.
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That lawyer was seeking justice for his client, but he ended up in a cell.
The spokesperson of the command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed this via a statement on Tuesday.
He said that the DPO’s removal came after the conclusion of investigations into the allegations made against him.
Hundeyin explained that the DPO would be removed pending a review of his case by other supervisory authorities.
The Petition
The Lagos-based lawyer, Olumide Sonupe, petitioned the Police boss after he was detained while seeking the bail of his client at the Moshalashi Police Station in the Alimosho area of the state on December 30, 2023.
The CP had earlier ordered a thorough investigation into the matter upon receipt of the publication.
CP Fayoade has equally directed the OC Legal of the Command to initiate steps to reach out to the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos State Branch to enable a round table discussion.
The meeting is towards preventing a recurrence of the avoidable incident and enhancing better Police-Lawyers relationship.
