Alleged illegal detention, extortion : Rights group, others beg IGP, PSC to investigate, sanction Commander SIU, DPO Asokoro Abuja
By Chinaza Nwaoma Onitsha
Worried by the inundation of his office with petitions and complaints on the alleged illegal activities of the Commander of the IGP’s Special Investigation Unit, (SIU), Force Headquarters, Abuja, Moses Jolugbo, and the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Asokoro Police station, Mike Eguaboi, the National President of Human Dignity Restoration Association, (HDRA), Jude Achebe has urged for their discreet investigation and sanction if found guilty.
Making the urge to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Police Service Commission, PSC, Achebe added that the SIU Commander from investigation, has two officers he works with that assist in the said dragging of the image of the police force to the mud and named them to include the Administration officer, Shulamite Ilodigwe and Abiodun Fassasi.
The DPO of Asokoro according to the allegation collaborates with the SIU Commander in the said abuse of office by illegal detention of suspects without being taken to court as at and when do in accordance with the law, but prolong their detention for financial benefit.
“We gathered that some suspects spend four to six months in detention without being charged to court and we view it that these officers can not ridicule your career which you built over the years as we hope you will leave a legacy worthy of emulation when you retire as IGP.
Achebe who condemned some of the ills going on in the country recalled when he went to Onitsha Correctional Centre with his human right organization team for free legal service to seven inmates and it was discovered that the inmates have no case file or something that defined their case but just that they were picked in the street by the police and dumped there through the court.
He cautioned that one should know that he should be remembered for the good or bad thing he did on retirement like the late military junta, Idiagbon.
“I call on you, Mr. IGP to hearken to the voice of those being humiliated by these police officers and bring them to order. Teach them that they should not abuse their office,” the activist pleaded.
In his contribution, a man, Obinna Okeke, who disclosed that he feels pained by the illegal activities of the bad eggs in the police force, told our correspondent that he has been investigating the said atrocities of the named police officers and others adding that, “Presently a boy is being detained and has stayed for about 10 months now, held as Yahoo boy, at Abattoir Police station without being charged to court for refusing the bidding of the officers.
“There was a day the Asokoro Magistrate came to the Asokoro Police station and granted bail to some suspects who have spent months there and the DPO called on SIU Commander to send IPOs in charge of their cases to come and claim that they were being prepared to be charged to court.they succeeded in about five but scores were granted bail by the magistrate.
“The Pioneer Commander of SIU, a Calabar man, (AC), now retired, never allowed suspects to be detained above 48 hours unless in a murder case, but this Moses and DPO Asokoro, they detain suspects for six months to one year and I am sure IGP is not aware of what they do. The DPO will tell you IGP is his brother.
“Other police stations and offices in Abuja do not extort, prolong detention, intimidate suspects except these two, IGP should kindly deploy and investigate them as relief to those they have pained,” he pleaded
“A girl that is detained on forex trading issue, has spent about two months in detention at Asokoro without being charged to court until the girl sued them and court granted her bail but they refused the bail up till now. Also a boy, Abiola Nwapani, involved in murder case, has spent two months without being charged to court, and so many others,” so we hope the IGP as a father, will do the needful,” he pleaded.
