Journalist’s torture: Lagos CP submits report to IG

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Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, has submitted a formal report to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, over an illegal raid in FESTAC area of the state during which a journalist and 30 others were tortured.

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Abayomi Shogunle, told our correspondent on Saturday that the command headquarters had received the report on the tortured journalist, Femi Owolabi.

Following the PUNCH publication, the police high command had tendered an apology to Owolabi while the IG directed the Lagos police boss to investigate the alleged torture and send a report to the headquarters within 48 hours.

The CP subsequently ordered the arrest of the nine policemen involved and directed that they undergo an orderly room trial.

Shogunle has however confirmed that the IG has received the report.

Shogunle, who noted that the contents of the report could not be disclosed so as not to jeopardise investigation, said the police authorities would take appropriate measures of discipline, once investigation was concluded.

He said, “I can confirm to you that the Lagos State Police Command has sent in the report on the tortured journalist to the Force Headquarters. The CP sent in the report promptly to show you that the command did not take matter of abuses lightly.

“For now, we cannot disclose details of the report, because it is still being studied. But the fact is that the police authorities would act promptly on it, and punish erring officers.

“The punishment for the culpable policemen will be determined only at the end of investigation. So, the CP is going to brief, not only PUNCH but the entire media on the final decision at the appropriate time.”

The PUNCH had reported that the journalist and others were driven to an ATM in FESTAC and made to withdraw money at gunpoint to secure their release.

It had also been reported that some of the policemen who embarked on the illegal raid would be charged with armed robbery.

However, our correspondent learnt that the absence of other victims was affecting the pace of investigation.

The police have therefore urged other victims to come to the office of the Commissioner of Police or the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the State Department of Criminal Investigation to assist with the investigation.

Source: Punch