A human rights group, Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI) has tasked the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to investigate the officer who demanded a sum of N5m for the release of a panelbeater in Ogere, Ogun state, Mr. Afees Tijani.
The group made this declaration via a petition addressed to the IGP, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Thursday.
The petition was signed by SPANCI President, Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello.
Bello said that Tijani was wrongfully arrested by the police officers from Ogere in Ogun state on Thursday 18th April and was taken away by Policemen from Area E FESTAC Town Area Command in Lagos state on Friday, 19th April, 2024.
He noted that one of the officers identified as Emmanuel Aboli from Area E, FESTAC Town Area command, requested a sum of N5m from the panelbeater’s father, Mr. Abdul Rahman Hahmod Tijani before his son could be released.
Bello while speaking further, said that Tijani was unlawfully arrested and detained for about 6 days because of the refusal of the father to pay the money.
He then urged the IGP to use his good office to investigate the matter and take the matter away from Area E festac town area command in the interest of justice and fair hearing.
Bello while speaking further also tasked the IGP to investigate the account details provided by Aboli because it is used for fraudulent, illegal and unlawful transaction.
“Our request are that the police headquarters in Abuja investigate this matter and take the matter away from Area E FESTAC Town Area command in the interest of justice and fair hearing.
“We also want the account details provided by Officer Emmanuel Aboli investigated because it is used for fraudulent, illegal and unlawful transaction. We want the police to release and absolve Afees Tijani of the crime since he committed no crime for not cutting the truck.
“So it is wrong for the area E FESTAC Town area commander to allow the indicted officer Emmanuel Aboli who demanded for N5m bribe to go ahead with the investigation of the matter or case upon which he was indicted. That it is wrong for the Area E festac town police Area Commander’s men to bring Afees out of the cell when his father left and record him under threat.
“That IPO Emmanuel Aboli and his colleagues must have planned that one or more of other suspect should indict Afees Tijani which is an act of perversion, prevention, obstruction and defeat of cause of justice, so that he will be prosecuted in court and go to jail as earlier threatened by officer Emmanuel Aboli in the audio conversation with Afees Tijani’s father if they fail to pay the five million naira bribe.
“That Afees Tijani is innocent of the wrongful allegation against him because he refused to cut or pieces the stolen truck and did not have any hand in the sale or shared money of the said truck.
“That Afees Tijani is not aware by any means that it was a stolen vehicle, he only used his discretion moreover, there is no public police announcement about the stolen truck and he cannot report such to the police since he was not sure it was stolen to avoid litigation against him, moreso the investigation power to know that belongs to the police and not Afees”.
ENDS
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