A human rights group, Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI) has tasked the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to investigate a police officer alleged to have demanded a sum of N5m for the release of a panel beater, Afees Tijan, in Ogere, Ogun state.
The group made this declaration via a petition addressed to the IGP, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Thursday, April 25.
The petition was signed by SPANCI president, Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello.
Bello said that Tijani was wrongfully arrested by the police officers from Ogere in Ogun state on Thursday, April 18, and was taken away by policemen from Area E FESTAC Town Area Command in Lagos state on Friday, April 19.
He noted that one of the officers requested a sum of N5m from the panel beater’s father, Abdul Rahman Hahmod Tijani before his son could be released.
Bello added that Tijani was unlawfully arrested and detained for about six days because of the refusal of the father to pay the money.
He, therefore, urged the IGP to use his esteemed position to probe the issue and transfer it from the jurisdiction of the Area E Festac Town area command to ensure justice and a fair hearing.
Bello also urged the IGP to scrutinize the account details provided by the police officer due to suspicions of fraudulent, illegal, and unlawful transactions being conducted through it.
He wrote: “Our request is that the police headquarters in Abuja investigate this matter and take the matter away from Area E FESTAC Town Area command in the interest of justice and fair hearing.
“We also want the account details provided by the officer investigated because it is used for fraudulent, illegal, and unlawful transactions. We want the police to release and absolve Afees Tijani of the crime since he committed no crime for not cutting the truck.”