metro

Two officers arrested after car dealer dies in police custody

Published

1 month ago

February 16, 2025

Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin

Two officers arrested after car dealer dies in police custody

The family of a car dealer, Olashile Oduga, has called for justice following his alleged death due to police torture at the Ikota Police Post in Lagos.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Oduga’s elder sister, Abisola Bakare, recounted how they were informed of his passing after contacting the estate manager where he resided in the Chevron area of Ajah.

She said, “It was my brother’s pregnant wife who called me on Wednesday afternoon, saying her husband’s line had been unreachable since Tuesday afternoon. So, I called the estate manager where he lived and asked him to check on him to find out why his phone wasn’t going through.

“It was the estate manager who then informed us that some policemen from the Ikota Police Post had arrested him on Tuesday afternoon.”

According to Bakare, her brother was involved in a dispute with a neighbor, Stasia Nora, which escalated into a physical altercation. Following the incident, Nora reported the matter to the police, leading to Oduga’s arrest.

She said the estate manager had attempted to visit Oduga at the police post on Tuesday but was denied access.

“So, I followed the estate manager to the police post on Wednesday, along with my sisters. When we arrived, I mentioned my brother’s name and told them we were informed of his arrest and detention at the post.

READ ALSO:

“But the officers on duty denied having any record of him. The estate manager confronted them, insisting that Oduga was present when their men took my brother away. It was at that moment that one of the officers called the Investigating Police Officer of the post, Modinat Alaka, who directed us to Ajah Police Station because the case had been transferred there,” she explained.

Upon reaching the Ajah Police Station, Bakare found senior officers discussing the situation.

“They kept telling me, ‘Madam, sorry. Take it easy.’ I asked them, ‘Sorry for what?’ and demanded my brother’s release. Then, to my shock, the Ikota police IPO started crying.

“The Divisional Police Officer of Ajah Police Station shouted at her, ordering her to speak before he lost his temper. It was then that she told me my brother was dead,” Bakare lamented.

When she inquired about what had happened, the officer claimed that Oduga had been weak upon arrival at the station and was taken to Epe General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

“I asked if they had any video evidence showing him being taken to the hospital, but she said they had forgotten to take pictures. I demanded to see his body, and they told me it had been deposited at the Epe mortuary.

“The officers kept begging me, but I left the station in sorrow that Wednesday night,” she added.

Determined to take action, Bakare reported the incident to the Force Criminal Investigation Department at Alagbon that same night.

The following morning, she received a call from Ajah Police Station requesting her presence.

“When I arrived, the officers started begging again. As I was pressing for answers, some officers from Panti arrived and demanded that the case be transferred to their office.

READ ALSO:

“They arrested the woman who fought with my brother and two policemen involved in his arrest. I followed them all to Panti that Thursday,” she stated.

At Panti, Chief Superintendent of Police Abdullahi Lateef questioned the officers involved, who claimed Oduga was detained because the altercation had resulted in an injury to the woman’s hand.

“Lateef then asked if there was any bloodstain or serious injury. They admitted that there was none, only that one of the woman’s fingernails had been removed.

“He asked if she had any visible wounds or bruises, and they said no. He then demanded to know why they had detained my brother in the first place, but the officers could not answer.

“As a result, he ordered their detention along with the woman who fought with my brother,” Bakare explained.

She added that they later visited the mortuary to inspect Oduga’s body.

“When we arrived at the mortuary on Friday, the attendant brought out my brother’s corpse. His body was covered in bloodstains and showed multiple marks of physical abuse. I even saw deep handcuff marks on his wrists, indicating that he had been severely restrained.

“We took photos and video recordings of his body and returned to Panti. Upon seeing the evidence, CSP Lateef admitted that my brother must have been tortured to death. Though he apologised to us and asked us to return home,” Bakare said.

The family has vowed to pursue justice for Oduga’s death.

“As a family, we are determined to seek justice. We will get a good lawyer for the case. All we seek is justice,” she added.

Speaking on the issue, Bakare’s husband, Ayoola, who had alerted the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, on social media, condemned Oduga’s death and demanded accountability.

He confirmed that the family planned to retrieve Oduga’s remains from the mortuary on Monday for burial.

Two officers arrested after car dealer dies in police custody

(PUNCH)

Related Topics:Car dealer officers Police Custody

Up Next

ISWAP terrorists attack military post in Borno

Don't Miss

Tambuwal to Tinubu: Your government lacks direction

metro

We won’t stop Sharia panels from operating in Oyo – Gov Makinde

Published

8 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Trends Admin

Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde

We won’t stop Sharia panels from operating in Oyo – Gov Makinde

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has assured Muslims in the state that he has no objections to the operation of Sharia panels, emphasizing that individuals are free to seek dispute resolution through them if they so wish.

Speaking at the 2025 Iftar event organized by the state government at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, Makinde clarified that he has no plans to challenge the legality of Sharia courts in the state. His comments were conveyed in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju.

Earlier in the week, Dr. Rafiu Bello, Chairman of the Sharia Committee of Oyo Land, had confirmed that a Sharia panel had already been established in Oyo town and had begun sittings. This led to renewed discussions regarding the panel’s constitutionality.

In response, Makinde reiterated his stance that the Constitution remains the supreme authority in all legal matters while acknowledging the role of Sharia panels in alternative dispute resolution.

“I read in the newspaper that I would go to court for interpretation on the Sharia panel, which is ongoing in Oyo. That is not my position,” the governor stated. “My position is that we will support anything that is in our Constitution.”

READ ALSO:

Makinde explained that alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including the Sharia panel, could ease the burden on the courts, provided they do not conflict with constitutional provisions.

He further emphasized his administration’s commitment to maintaining religious harmony and unity in the state, cautioning against attempts to use religion for political gains.

“As we move towards the next election, there will be elements that only think about the next election. But what we have done in this administration is to think about the next generation,” he said.

The governor also used the occasion to appreciate the Muslim community for their support and prayers, acknowledging the contributions of religious leaders, lawmakers, and security agencies in fostering peace and development in Oyo State.

The event was attended by several dignitaries, including former Governor Rashidi Ladoja, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin (represented by Deputy Speaker Mohammed Fadeyi), and other key figures from the judiciary and legislative arms of government.

We won’t stop Sharia panels from operating in Oyo – Gov Makinde

metro

EFCC re-arraigns son of ex-PDP chairman for alleged N2.2bn oil subsidy fraud

Published

8 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Trends Admin

EFCC re-arraigns son of ex-PDP chairman for alleged N2.2bn oil subsidy fraud

Mamman Nasir Ali, the son of former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and one Christian Taylor were on Thursday rearraigned for an alleged N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud before Justice Mojisola Dadap of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

They were re-arraigned alongside Nasaman Oil Services Limited on an amended 57-count charge, following new findings in the case.

The defendants had initially been arraigned on a 49-count charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain money by false pretence, obtaining money by false pretence, forgery and the use of false documents.

At the scheduled trial for the adoption of final written addresses on Wednesday, the prosecution counsel, Seiduh Atteh, informed the court of the amended charges and requested that the defendants take a fresh plea.

There was no objection from the defence counsel, Obafemi Kolade, SAN.

READ ALSO:

Consequently, the court granted the request.

The defendants, thereafter, pleaded “not guilty” to the amended charges preferred against them.

In the amended charge, the defendants, as well as Oluwaseun Ogunbambo and Olabisi Abdul Afeez, who are both at large, allegedly “fraudulently obtained money from the Federal Government on or about September 9, 2011.”

The defendants also allegedly forged a document titled: “ GASOLINE ANALYSIS” on board MT Overseas Limar, purportedly issued by Saybolt Concremat on the said date.

Following the re-arraignment, Kolade requested time for the defence to amend its written address in response to the new charges.

Justice Dada directed the prosecution to file a response before the next hearing.

The case was adjourned till April 15, 2025 for the adoption of final written addresses.

EFCC re-arraigns son of ex-PDP chairman for alleged N2.2bn oil subsidy fraud

metro

Group says Natasha’s recall will deepen democracy

Published

8 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Trends Admin

Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

Group says Natasha’s recall will deepen democracy

The Campaign for Democracy, a civil society organisation, on Thursday said the recall of Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP-Kogi Central) by her constituents would deepen democracy in Nigeria.

The pro-democracy group also said that such action by her concerned constituents would help put lawmakers on their toes to serve them well.

The group made this known in a statement issued in Lokoja by its President, Mr Ifeanyi Odili.

It expressed worry over what it described as “avoidable” crisis between embattled suspended Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan and Senate President Godswill Akpabio a few weeks ago.

According to the group, the incident has put Nigeria’s image on trial before the global community.

The CSO said it was worried that, rather than addressing the core issues surrounding her (Akpoti-Uduaghan) suspension within the framework of Nigeria’s democratic institutions, she chose to “engage in a campaign of calumny against the Senate as an institution.”

“It’s unfortunate that Akpoti-Uduaghan’s activities within and outside the country since the beginning of the controversy have cast an unfortunate dent on the image of Nigeria, for which she must apologise.

READ ALSO:

“This is nothing but gross misconduct against Nigeria,” it said.

It advised respected Nigerian leaders to always identify when not to play opposition politics with delicate national issues, in the best interest of the nation.

“More worrisome is the fact that she has distorted the facts preceding her suspension and curiously held on to her sexual harassment allegations against the Senate President as the reason for the initial actions taken against her.

“Taking such misrepresentation to the world stage and representing Nigeria illegally at the Inter Parliamentary Union to air such views can be described as nothing but gross misconduct against the country.