A group, Veteran Organization for Human Rights (VOHRI) has raised an alarm over what it described as unlawful arrest and detention of a 37-year-old trailer driver, Mr. Kabir Adebiyi by men of Oyo state police command.
VOHRI in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, alleged that Adebiyi was unlawfully arrested by police officers attached to CP Monitoring Unit around 10.pm on May 3rd 2023.
The group alleged that the trailer driver was arrested without fair hearing and he has not been released since then.
It added that all efforts made to secure his release by his family since his arrest have been proved abortive.
VOHRI in the statement signed by the duo of Ayobami Sakirullah, Lead Activist/Coordinator and Abimbola Adekunle, General Secretary, lamented that the detention of the trailer driver has caused serious emotional trauma and life threatening situation to him and members of his family.
The group then called on the commissioner of Police in the state to intervene.
The group urged the CP to use the office to intervene and investigate the matter.
The duo while speaking further called for unconditional release of the driver.
They added that the arrest and detention of the trailer driver is a violation to his fundamental human rights.
The group while speaking further urged the CP to investigate the matter.
“We have been briefed by our client’s wife, that, about 10pm on May 3rd, Mr Kabir Adebiyi was arrested by CP Monitoring Unit without fair hearing, the following day, his mother went to the CP monitoring unit to find out the offence committed by her son, and she was told that, her son described a location for a fraudster and they will not release him until they find the principal suspect.
“When Kabir wife asked what can be done to locate the principal suspect, they told her they will need to track down the suspect and that will cost her the sum of N25000. The money was handed over to them immediately, and after three weeks that they could not find the suspect, Kabir’s wife requested for his bail. They got infuriated and threatened to detain the woman.
“This has caused serious emotional trauma and life threatening situation to our client and her son in police custody. We are thereby calling on you to use your good offices to intervene before the situation gets out of hand and allow justice to be done on this matter in time.
“Consequent upon serious threat to life, unlawful detention, abuse of office/power, intimidation and conspiracy meted on Mr Kabir run contrary to the laws of the land as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, section 33,34,35 as amended, we are thereby appealing to you sir, to use your good offices to order thorough investigation into this case for justice to prevail.
“VOHRI demands nothing but justice in this matter. We rely on your prompt intervention and usual unbiased investigation in this regard”.