General News
A human rights organization, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice, CHRSJ, has urged the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to caution the State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu over illegal and indiscriminate arrest of innocent citizens of the state, saying that what the police tagged as general raiding in recent time, was just over-zealousness.
In a statement, CHRSJ stated that the call became imperative over illegal arrest of one
Oladipo Dada, a casual worker with the State Ministry of Environment, during the purported and barbaric overzealous activities of the men of the 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 Oladipo Dada on his way back home on Monday evening by the police, following the arrest of three suspected armed robbers by Governor Sanwo-Olu that nearly snatched a car from the owner at Ojota area of the State on Monday.
It was learnt that Oladipo Dada was illegally arrested by the men of Alakuko Divisional Police Station and unlawfully detained till the time of filling this report without allowing his family members to see him, particularly, his brother, Kayode Dada, the action that is 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 transferring him to different police stations in the last 48 hours, instead of being granted bail or charged to court, but fear has 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 created by the arrest of armed robbers on Monday this week by the state governor at Force Headquarters in Abuja.
It added that Odumosu also began undemocratic and unconstitutional raiding in the
State on Monday evening, to impress Governor Sanwo-Olu that he was working so as not to recommend him for removal as Lagos State Police boss.
It recalled that the CHRSJ had earlier called for immediate removal of Odumosu by the police authority in the country, over illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and undemocratic arrest and detention of innocent citizens of the state beyond constitutionally stipulated time, by allowing criminals to have free day across the length and breadth of the State.
– July 15, 2021 @ 09:38 GMT
Tags: CHRSJ urges Gov. Sanwo-Olu to caution Lagos CP on violation of fundamental rights of citizens
