Imohimi Edgal, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, has ordered the arrest and trial of four policemen for alleged corrupt practice and shoddy investigation.
The police officers attached to the Ijanikin Division are Inspector Amiete, Sergeant Gbemunu Samuel, Sergeant Afolabi Oluwaseun and Corporal Adigun Omotayo.
According to Chike Oti, Lagos police spokesman, the officers had purportedly arrested one Theodore Ifunanya on December 17, 2018 on the suspicion of armed robbery and in the course of investigation, recovered the sum of CFA 350,000 from him.
“After the investigation, the said Ifunanya Theodore was exonerated from the allegation. However, when his request for the release of his money was not attended to, he called the Area Commander in charge of Area K Morogbo, ACP Hope Okafor, who directed that his money be released to him without delay,” recounted CSP Chike Oti, Lagos Police spokesman.
“Meanwhile, the commissioner of police was briefed that the aforementioned police operatives were not at their professional best while handling the case,” Oti said.
Continuing, the police spokesman said, “Consequently, he directed the head of the Command’s Provost Section to arrest investigate and try the officers involved in orderly room and if found guilty, appropriate punishment will be meted to them.
“The commissioner of police has directed that the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ijanikin division be issued with a query and if his response is not acceptable, his conduct will be reported to the Inspector General of Police for necessary action,” the police spokesman, added.
Four suspected pipeline vandals nabbed, one declared wanted
The Lagos State Police Command has recorded a breakthrough in the investigation of the fire incident that occurred on December 19, 2018 at about 2am.
The incident which occurred at Abule-Egba and Agege areas of Lagos saw at least 100 houses, 100 shops and 50 cars go up in flames with the arrest of four suspected pipeline vandals, according to CSP Chike Oti, Lagos police spokesman.
During interrogation, CSP Oti said the four suspects gave vivid account of how the fire that emanated from a vandalised petroleum pipe engulfed a fraction of Abule-Egba community and escalated to parts of Agege area, destroying properties worth millions of Naira.
“They also mentioned one Hon (Amb) Prince Adedipo Dauda Ewenla as their ring leader,” said the police spokesman said.
“Based on this, the Command extended invitation to him at his last known address but found out that he has fled to Ogun state in order to evade arrest,” he said.
Continuing, he said, “He is hereby advised to come out of hiding and report himself to Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja or to the nearest police station in the State to defend the allegation against him.”
Chinwe AGBEZE
