The Lagos state judicial panel has summoned Dolapo Badmus,
former public relations officer for zone two police command to identify a
police officer who allegedly brutalised Olajide Fowotade, a petitioner.
The panel which was set up by the Lagos state government to
probe police brutality and other related matters, on Saturday, ordered that
Badmus, who is a chief superintendent of police (CSP), be served summons
through Joseph Eboseremen, police counsel, to identify Sergeant Ayo who
allegedly brutalised the petitioner in a traffic dispute along Ketu-Ikosi road
while he was returning from his workplace in 2017.
In his first appearance, Fowotade, a 60-year-old building
contractor, alleged that one Sergeant Ayo from Ketu police station brutalised
him on March 11, 2017 during a traffic dispute along Ketu-Ikosi road, which
caused him injuries, including the loss of two teeth.
The petitioner told the panel that he did not know the
surname of the police officer who brutalised him but could only identified him
as “Ayo” from Ketu police station.
Fowotade said Badmus, the former spokesperson, knows the
name of the sergeant and can identify him because he was called by Badmus that
the police authorities were interested in the case.
The petitioner said Badmus got to know about his alleged
maltreatment when two national newspapers published it on March 14, 2017.
“I was called from Zone 2 by Dolapo Badmus, the
spokesperson. When I got to her office, she asked me what happened and I
explained. She said I should go and that they will call me back,” he told the
panel.
“Four days later, they called me back, that AIG wants to see
me, Kayode Aderanti was the AIG zone 2. The DPO brought the two officers and
explained to the AIG. A panel was set up but I did not hear from them for
months.”
Responding, Emmanuel Eze, police counsel, said the police
legal team was unable to reach the accused officer.
“The petitioner did not mention the surname of Ayo. We could
not trace the name to zone 2 where he claimed to have reported the incident. We
could not make headway,” Eze told the panel.
“We need to get the case file of Ayo and his contact. We are
constrained to ask for an adjournment because we are without the Ayo or the
case file.”
Doris Okuwobi, chairperson of the panel, said the summons
should be served on Badmus and that the police counsel should ensure that the
summons get to her.
Further hearing on the case was adjourned till January 15,
2021.
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