A Lagos based 80-year old pastor, Pa Manase Elebijo has appealed to the Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris to save his live from intimidation, harassment and illegal detention by policemen.
The octogenarian alleged that he has been a subject of illegal detention in recent times by policemen attached to the Investigation Department of the Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan and operatives of the Force Headquarters Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Abuja.
He claimed that a business partner, one Dr. Oladipo Omojolowo has been using the policemen to harass intimidate and detain him and one Ismaila Asimi illegally, with a view to force them into forfeiting their gain from a joint business of a wooden bridge at Igando in Alimosho ouncil area of Lagos.
In a petition through his counsel, Barrister Femi Danilola, the pastor who has become frail as a result of ill health from the illegal detention, alleged that he was arrested and detained at the Zone 2 command based on the petition by Omojolowo on 16th February 2017 and detained till the second day before his release to his counsel.
Without minding his age, Elebijo claimed another set of policemen led by one Assistant Superintendent of Police Rasheed and Inspector Patrick from the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Abuja stormed his residence, assaulted and illegally arrested him on 25th March 2017 and detained him at Area “ M” Police Command Idimu till the following day.
Consequent upon the manhandling and inhuman treatment in the hands of the policemen, the octogenarian claimed he became unconscious and collapsed in the cell before he was rushed to Rothem Hospital, Idimu by policemen and his counsel and later transferred to Alimosho General Hospital, Igando when his condition became worse.
According to the petition dated 5th March, 2017 tilted “Complain Against Threat to Life by Dr. Omojolowo and Police Intimidation, Harassment and Illegal Detention”, routed through the Force Headquarters X Sqaud Annex, Alagbon Close, Lagos, Pa Elebijo said his travail began when a suit against Dr. Omojolowo in respect of the joint wooden bridge business was delivered in his favour on the 3rd of November, 2016 by Hon. Justice Y. A. Adesanya of Lagos High Court No. 21.
He added that all his efforts to regain his position as the financial director of the business and continue to collect proceed from the business was rebuffed by Dr. Omojolowo with the aides of thugs and policemen.
Elebijo alleged that Dr. Omojolowo had been single handedly collecting money from toll bridge for five years without remitting his own share to him, which necessitated the court action.
“I went on the 18th day of February, 2017 to meet Dr. Omojolowo with the proposed new agreement for the peacveful running of our wooden bridge businesses as directed by court and to discuss the modality of collections of tolls. Dr Omojolowo, his thugs and those collecting tolls on the wooden bridge attacked me and threatened to kill me if I come near the bridge again. The matter was reported to the State Criminal Department, Panti, which led to the arrest of four of my assailants, while Dr. Omojolowo and his son Kunle escaped”.
Later, he then wrote a frivolous petition to Zone 2 headquarters Onikan, alleging that I came to his house with guns and 20 others on the 16th day of February 2016 by 9am and that I have chased him from home and his aged mother. I was arrested based on this petition and detained till second day before the intervention of my cousel and granted bail.
The matter was reported to the AIG. Kayode Aderanti on 10th March 2017 and he asked Dr. Omojolowo to come for AIG interview to proof the allegation. Rather than honour the interview, he abandoned the petition since he can not buy the conscience of the AIG and ran to Force CIID Abuja with the same frivolous petition, which made policemen from Abuja came for my arrest on 25th day of March 2016 and was detained at area M command Idimu till 27th, where I collapsed and was rushed to the hospital as a result of my deteriorating health”, the old man alleged in the petition.
Elebijo claimed that due to his deteriorating health, he collapsed last week at the Airport while going to Abuja to honour the invitation by men of the FCIID and was rushed to the hospital for immediate medical attention.
He queried why such a matter of frivolous allegation would be transferred to Abuja when there are competent, unbiased, senior impartial cops and police formations and command exist in Lagos.
Saying that he was ready to submit himself genuine investigation and prosecution if found culpable, Pa. Elebijo urged the IGP to refer the matter back to Lagos due to his old age so that he can always honour invitation by the police.
“Sir, considering my old age and cost of fare to Abuja, I urge you to use your good office in transferring the matter to Lagos so that I will always be available for when invited,” he pleaded.
