A legal practitioner, Benjamin Ogunmodede has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu over alleged attempt by the police in Ogun State to compromise their investigation in a case of armed robbery.
The suspects were apprehended and paraded by the police for allegedly robbering Olalekan Olakitan as well as sudden disappearance of recovered Pump rifle from the custody of the police.
Ogunmodede, on behalf of his client, Olalekan Olakitan, who was the alleged victim of the robbery attack, wrote in the petition dated 2nd July, and couriered on 3rd July 2019 (a copy made available to CITYVOICE) that the victim was attacked by the gang on 21st August, 2018, at Iyana Ilogbo, Ota town of Ogun State.
The petition said the victim narrowly escaped death, while four suspects were subsequently arrested and a Pump Action gun recovered from the gang by the police.
The petition listed the arrested suspects as Rasaq Lawal, Yemi Richard, Tajudeen Lawal and Saka who were thereafter paraded by the police along with the recovered gun.
In a twist of events, the police kept mute on the investigation and released suspects, the lawyer said.
He adds that immediately upon their release, the suspects claimed that that they had liaised with some police officers to bury and compromise the ongoing investigation pertaining to the allegation of armed robbery levied against them and members of their gang and also to silence the victim
The counsel said in the petition that to his dismay, a cooked up story of impersonation was brought against his client by the police, and he was subsequently charged to court, while the armed robbery suspects were released.
The lawyer said that his client was subsequently discharged and acquitted by Magistrate C.O Sotunde of the Magistrate Court Ifo, who ruled that: ‘I find the defendant not guilty. The defendant is accordingly discharged and acquitted.’
“We hereby attached copies of the following documents for your perusal:
*the petition dated 24th day of August, 2018 written to the Commander of the Police Force, Zonal Intervention Squad, Zone 2 Command, Obada-Oko, Ogun State’, the petition said.
*The petition dated 23rd day of October, 2018 written to the Force Public Relations Officer, Force Public Relations Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
*The judgment delivered in charge number MIF/736c/2018 between Commissioner of Police vs Olalekan Olaitan on the 28th day of December, 2018 by his worship C.O Sotunde.’
The lawyer informed the police IG that, “we humbly commend this petition to your office for necessary action. Kindly acknowledge receipt and treat as urgent and paramount, while thanking in anticipation of your cooperation.
“We are passionately calling on you, sir, to save the soul of our client and that of his family members by using your good office to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book. Our client has been living in fear because Yemi Richard and members of the notorious gang have been threatening our client that they will deal with our client in a ruthless way since their earlier ploy to use the machinery of justice to pursue unusual cause has completely failed’.
City Voice
