NBA Demand Judgment for it’s Member, Barr. Friday Osiziate Akpeji
• Urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba to intervene
If a lawyer who is trained to offer defence for people is defenceless, what do we expect to happen to a common Nigerian who has little or no book knowledge of the law. This is the case of a learned fellow, Barr. Friday Osiziate Akpeji who was brutalized and sustained major injuries in the hands of Police officers who are aiding and abetting criminals in Meiran, Lagos in May 2021. Till date, one year later, Barr. Friday Osiziate Akpeji is yet to get justice. Infact, the case has not been charged to court, Trek Africa Newspaper can reliably report.
Other members of the Bar are calling out through various mediums. The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) has urged the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba to intervene. The members of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Epe branch are also begging for justice for one of its committed members.
In a letter dated 12th April 2022 addressed to the DIG, Federal Criminal Investigation Department FCID, Alagbon, Lagos stated that sometime in May 2021, Barr. Akpeji ‘In the course of his duties as a lawyer, our member submitted a petition of THREAT TO LIFE, DREADED CULTIST, ARMED ROBBER, DRUGS DEALER AND KIDNAPPER from his clients, Mr. ANDRE PATRICK UBI AND Mr. NWACHUKWU CHIKWADO against one Mr. SAIDI AREMO (A.k.a Gucci) before the Meiran police station with an acknowledge copy duly stamped and our member was called on the 15th June 2021 by one Supol BOLA attached to Meiran police station to come and make a statement, that the petition had been approved and the suspect was in custody.
That on his way to the station the suspects and his cohorts about 9:00 am of the same day attacked our member at Ile-Iwe, last bus stop, Meiran, the street beside the Meiran police division.’
The letter continued: ‘That Mr Aremo Saidi, Mr. Monsuru aka organizing and their cohorts took our member to an uncompleted building on the same street, beat me to stupor, threatened to kill him, kept him in their custody from 9:00 am till 5:00Pm and demanded for a ransom of #4.5 million (Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira). Mr Aremo saidi, Mr. Monsuru A.k.a Organizing and their cohots informed our member that they would kill him and dump his corpse in the nearby canal, denied him access to his 3 (three) phones, 2 (two) iPhone x worth over #700,000.00 (seven hundred thousand naira) and 1 (one) Sony Ericson phone worth #20,000 twenty thousand naira only, the Sony Ericson was later handed over to him at the police station but our member never got the 2 (two) Iphones back.’
‘Our member was put under pressure in the suspect’s custody and was forced to call his in-law who paid #10,000 (ten thousand naira) and another N50,000.00 (fifty thousand naira) subsequently to Mr Aremo saidi, Mr. Monsuru A.k.a Organizing and their cohots by his brother.
That at about 5:00 pm Supol Bola who conspired with the suspect came in disguise of his rescue and led him to the station, whereas sopol Bola and Insp. Olabode are beneficiaries of the suspect’s drugs business at Oja Market, the adjoining street beside Meiran police station’
Adding more facts to the complicity of Nigeria Police in the matter, the letter shared: ‘That when the suspect was making his statement at the Meiran police station another Officer excused our member out for a discussion on coming back he met Supol. Bola and Insp. Olabode doctoring the statement of the suspect (Mr. Aremo) after which the suspect was granted administrative bail even before our member left the police station.
That Supol Bola conspired with the suspects, had intention to kill and did kidnap our member, he sent our member’s petition to the suspects (Mr Aremo saidi), which they showed our member on Mr Aremo’s phone while he was under kidnap and torture.
That the parties where asked to come back on Monday 19th July 2021 but the greatest surprise our member was there and the suspect never showed up’, NBA Epe branch revealed.
The Human Rights Committee of the NBA Epe Branch has been on this matter since then and refused to compromise it’s stand by insisting that the suspects be charged to COURT despite all entreaties. However, it has been one excuse to the other since the matter was transferred to ZONE 2, Onikan.
Recently, Barr. Funmi Adeogun, FNIMC, the Chairman of Human Rights Committee, NBA, Epe branch who doubles as the
Treasurer, NBA-SPIDEL revealed to Trek Africa Newspaper, ‘Finally, on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, the long awaited O/C LEGAL ZONE 2 ADVICE came out and he has advised that both the LAWYER (victim) and the Suspect be Charged to COURT for Affray.’
Despite this new move, however, Barr. Adeogun said ‘the Police officers involved were never invited to make statements as there we have more than one suspect.’
Because of the lackadaisical response and wicked acts meted out by police officers, Supol Bola and Inspector Olabode yet they are being covered up, the Nigerian Bar Association is requesting that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba should intervene in the matter. He should also ensure that the said officers are duly punished and arraigned in court. Moreso, justice should be done for Barr. Friday Akpeji.
This is in order to restore confidence of Nigerians in the ability of the Nigeria Police to maintain law and order in the society.
