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Mr Ali Qasim Atanda, a haulage contractor has alleged illegal detention, extortion and victimisation by policemen attached to the Ilasan police station in the Lekki axis of Lagos State.
Narrating his ordeals in the hands of the law enforcement agencies at the weekend, Atanda revealed that in the early hours of Friday, February 5th, 2021, his vehicle, a MAN truck with registration number KRD606XX, was hit by a Mercedes Benz 4Matic SUV, wine colour from behind thereby leading to the side mirror being damaged at Igbara along the Lekki-Epe Expressway Lagos.
According to Atanda, in the melee that ensued, the woman who was behind the wheel, Mrs. Onyedika Ajaegbu tore his dress to shreds thus leading to the impounding of the truck as well as arrest of one Monday David, said to be a hired-hand with the truck driver by policemen attached to Ilasan police station.
“Attempts to get my employee, David, were resisted until I paid N10, 000 from the initial N20, 000 demanded for his bail three days later. The IPO on the case, Sergeant Emmanuel Salako, Inspector Mariam and the Division Transport Officer, Ishola Adeyemi, a deputy superintendent of Police, also insisted that I should pay N20, 000 before they can charge the matter to court even after paying the Vehicle Inspection Officers to ascertain the accident.
The policemen have continued to intimidate and harass me. My vehicle, which is the only means of my livelihood has been at their custody in the past three weeks now,” Atanda lamented.
In a chat with our correspondent, Mrs. Ajaegbu said the case is being handled at the police station.
Also speaking separately with DSP Adeyemi and Sergeant Salako they confirmed that the incident happened.
“The truck driver was involved in a minor accident with a SUV, and caused a damage of about N1.6million. I told the Alfa (driver) to do the needful but he refused. So there is nothing I can do about it. Nobody is victimising him,” DSP Adeyemi said.
As at press time, the Lagos State Command PPRO, Muyiwa Adejobi, was not available for comments as he neither returned his calls or replied to text messages sent to him.
