CP Hakeem Odumosu
By Praise Agbro, Lagos
The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has been criticised over its failure to sanction an errant officer.
The leadership is under fire over the detention of a lady, Jennifer Madueke, over a missing service pistol belonging to the Denton Divisional Police Officer, CSP Adegoke Akinlade.
Madueke was locked up for days in the Denton Police Station, Ebute Meta, allegedly tortured to confess and later transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba.
The 29-year-old and Akinlade had long dated but separated after the officer was posted out of Lagos in 2014.
When the married DPO returned to the state this year, the duo reunited, resumed communication and continued with their amorous affair.
On Friday, August 27, Akinlade reportedly invited the lady to his office, slept with her till Saturday morning and saw her off to the bus stop around 5am.
On Saturday, September 4, he invited Madueke for an outing but when she arrived, Akinlade detained and accused her of stealing his firearm.
She was kept in a cell till Monday, allegedly tortured by policemen on the order of the vexed DPO who also demanded a confessional statement, but rather than suspension to allow for a fair investigation, the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has redeployed Akinlade.
A statement at the weekend by Adekunle Ajisebutu, the command’s Public Relations Officer, promised that Odumosu will ensure justice in the matter.
Appropriate actions will be taken against any one found culpable at the conclusion of the ongoing investigation such that at the end, justice would have been served.
“The Commissioner of Police has directed immediate redeployment of the officer in the eye of the storm so as to pave the way for diligent and unbiased investigation”, the spokesman added.
A source close to the command said that officers and men could consider Odumosu’s action as an endorsement of recklessness.
He said allowing Akinlade to carry on as if what happened is a normal occurrence has sent a wrong message to personnel.
They now probably think having sex in the office is not a big deal; that they would not be severely punished if caught.
Even though security agencies observe esprit de corps regarding issues affecting uniformed men, this must not be swept under the carpet.
“When Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner, was to be probed after his FBI indictment over alleged links with Hushpuppi, the Police headquarters and service commission suspended him.
Why would you allow a DPO who lost his pistol after sex in the office to go to work. To do what? This matter is already in the news. Why redeployment instead of suspension ?”, the source quipped.
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