How police maltreated my brother – Mowunmi

Although Nigerian laws uphold the rights of a suspect, police officers maltreat, brutalize and in some cases kill them before making an appearance in court. A periodontologist writes how her brother was dehumanised by the police in Lagos.

My brother was detained for defilement of a minor, a crime which he did not commit. I had to leave a meeting from Lagos University Teaching Hospital where I am head of a department to rescue my brother from this crisis.

On arrival at Ogudu area command I met my brother on the floor seated with no shirt and string of his trousers removed looking like a convict in the office of IPO Endurance & co.

He had been placed in the cell and had to seat on the floor where there were bedbugs and could not seat next to me on the couch in this office because of contamination a reason proferred by IPO Endurance and co.

His other brothers had earler tried to get him bail but they were framed for offering bribe instead and told they had instructions from above they were not to grant bail and that the offence was not bailable.

We were made to understand that a former AIG Isaac Boladuro whose son, Lai had filed the petition was possibly giving these instructions.

In the long run my brother spent four nights and I had to cancel commitments such as invigilating for exams at the University of Maiduguri and lost earnings as I was told my brother may possibly be moved to Kirikiri on monday after appearance in court.

I commend IKORODU family court office for finally granting him bail and hope that this indespicable crime is solved ASAP. I humbly urge our new IGP to follow this case closely to start his era with an upright police force. Long live the Fedral Republic of Nigeria.

Mowunmi Dafinone

Consultant Periodontologist

Lagos