Ben Dunno, Warri
A Warri based Rights activist. Comrade Israel Joe, has demanded justice over the way and manner he was treated by the OC CID, Zone 5 Benin, DCP Uche Obiozo, who he alleged harassed, intimidated and detained him unlawfully in a matter of threat to life he took to the police as complainant for investigation.
But in a swift reaction to the allegations, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Zone 5 Benin, DSP Tijani Momoh, has dismissed the claim as false and calculated attempt to defame an officer of the law who carried out his investigative duties into the matter diligently within the ambit of the law.
Making the allegations in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri, yesterday, Comrade Joe, claimed that the OC CID Zone 5, had connived with a lawyer from Warri to manipulate the case of threat to life he petitioned to Zone 5, against some persons and turned him to accused instead of complainant.
The statement read in part; “A Deputy Commisioner of Police attached to Zone 5 Benin in charge of ZCID unlawfully detained me with the connivance of a notorious lawyer on the 13th of April, 2023 because I refused the advances from the criminãl lawyer to cede my vehicle to them”.
“I complained about some persons who attempted to murder, cyber stalk, and attacked me to Zone 5 of the Nigeria Police Force. I had told the police not to detain any of them but to investigate my petition”.
“We were all invited, and the lawyer to the suspects who was a friend to the DCP ZCID excused me. He told me that my vehicle was the bone of contention, and if I agreed to trade it with himself and the DCP, the DCP would look into my petition and we would all stand against his clients”.
“I had told him, that, the petition bothered on issues and was not related to any vehicle. He went again into the DCP’s office and came out telling me they would turn the case against me, should I refused to do their biddens. I held my ground, and really, the DCP summoned us after the interview with the O.C. anti-vice handling the matter”.
“After the interview with the DCP, he asked me to wait, and the DCP told me if the lawyer hadn’t told me about their conclusions. Again, I told the DCP that I’m not into fraud which he assumed, and can not trade my personal vehicle with him. He asked me to go, and, ordered the IPO to take my statement”.
“While I am petitioning the LPDC over the professional misconduct of the said lawyer, I want to challenge the Nigeria Police Force to investigate the criminal involvement of this officer who ordered that I should be detained on a thump up charges of stealing”.
However responding to these allegations in a telephone conversation yesterday, PPRO Zone 5, DSP Tijani Momoh, debunked the claim by the Activist, describing it as an attempt to curry public sympathy in a matter still being investigated by the police.
Said he; “A petition filed against Comrade Israel Joe was approved for investigation by AIG Zone 5, and immediately assigned to OC CID for action. In the course of preliminary investigations, all the parties involved were invited to be interviewed and thereafter asked to make their statements. He was then requested to get someone to sign his bail bond and released.