ABEOKUTA, Nigeria — An Ogun-based lawyer, Yemisi Adebayo, on Saturday, August 5, 2023, recounted a harrowing ordeal at the hands of the state police, leading to a miscarriage.
Adebayo stated that she was apprehended in her office by three police officers on Monday, July 31, 2023, under the guise of being taken to Onipanu Police Station, only for the police vehicle to bypass the station.
The initial involvement of Adebayo in the police case came when she accompanied a man named Niyi and four other individuals to the Onipanu Police Station after they were summoned over a land dispute.
The resolution of the case saw Adebayo being made responsible for producing the five individuals upon police request.
Despite informing the individuals to visit the police station on the particular Monday, officers arrived at her office demanding her presence.
On the way to what she believed was the police station, the police vehicle took an unexpected route.
Alarmed, Adebayo tried to flee when the car briefly stopped, but she was forcefully restrained.
Adebayo narrated a distressing confrontation where she was threatened and manhandled, leading to her public outcry and pleas for bystanders to document the situation.
The police officers, brandishing weapons, intimidated onlookers and subsequently let Adebayo go, abducting Niyi in the process.
After the incident, a visit to the hospital revealed Adebayo’s pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage, presumably due to the physical altercation.
Responding to the allegations, state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, emphasized the importance of cooperation when invited by the police for investigations.
Odutola described the police as friendly and urged Adebayo to cooperate with the ongoing investigations.
This incident raises concerns about police conduct and the need for reforms, ensuring the protection of civilians and upholding the rule of law.
Edo Court Affirms Citizens’ Right to Record Police Arrest, Frees Tricycle Rider
An Edo State Magistrate Court has dismissed charges against a tricycle rider for riding in a Government Reserved Area, GRA, and against a man for videoing a police arrest, highlighting concerns over police overreach and a lack of due process.
Brighton Odion, who was riding his tricycle along Limit Road in Benin City, was arrested on July 26, 2022, by the Nigeria Police Force’s New Etete Division, accused of violating a governor’s order restricting tricycle movement in that area. He was charged when he refused to bribe the police.
Mr. Vision Nelson was also arrested and charged for taking pictures of Odion’s arrest, being accused of being an unregistered photographer and unlicensed journalist, and for using his Android phone to record the event.
However, the court ruled in favour of both defendants, striking out the charges against them.
The Chief Magistrate in Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court 5, Sapele Road, Benin City, declared that “videoing or recording in a public place is not an offence, citizens have rights to do recordings anywhere, anytime.”
Furthermore, the magistrate stated that no law in Edo State prohibits or restricts tricycle movement on major roads or streets.
The case was struck out for lack of merit, as the police could not prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Edo Civil Society Organisations, EDOCSO, welcomed the judgment, stating that justice might be delayed but can never be denied.
They called on the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure properly trained and educated personnel man divisions to avoid such embarrassment.
The group also expressed frustration with what appears to be the police’s tendency to charge suspects without considering the final implications, leading to wasting time and resources on frivolous pursuits of non-existent criminal cases.
EDOCSO’s statement also made clear that any further harassment of tricycle riders in Edo state by police officers would be seen as contempt of court, and they will ensure the full wrath of the law takes its course.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of proper legal process and police accountability.
It underlines the need for comprehensive police training and adherence to the rule of law, and it illustrates the essential role of civil society organisations and the courts in upholding citizens’ rights.
