Ogun State varsity graduate, Abiola Oluga, 28, tells ABDULLATEEF FOWEWE how policemen arrested him and accused him of recording their actions, and later declared him a cultist whereas having a telephone dialog together with his pal
Can you present some details about what led to your detention?
I’m Abiola Oluga; I’m 28 years outdated. I used to be born in Abeokuta, Ogun State. I lately graduated from the Division of Arithmetic of the Federal College of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and I work as a full-stack net developer. Nevertheless, the detention occurred simply eight days after my commencement, as I returned house to help my father, who’s a widower and retired civil servant. On Sunday, February 4, 2024, whereas chatting with a pal on WhatsApp exterior my father’s home after coming back from church, I used to be unexpectedly arrested and bodily assaulted by some policemen, who falsely claimed that I used to be recording them on video. My father tried to talk with the Divisional Police Officer of the Ibara Police Division, Lateef Balogun, and his crew to hunt clarification, however they had been extraordinarily impolite and unhelpful.
The police officer didn’t present any respect to the elders of the group and even threatened my father with a gun. I used to be deeply saddened by the disrespect proven in public, not solely to me but additionally to my father. Different harmless people who had been arrested had been taken to the Lafenwa Police Station and detained for 3 hours earlier than being paraded all through Abeokuta by the anti-cultism unit. This uncovered us to public humiliation earlier than reaching the Ibara Police Station, the closest one to our space; their car returned at precisely 5.30 pm, accompanied by the Space Commander of Zone 2, Abeokuta.
Regardless of our efforts, my household was unable to bail me out on Sunday and had hoped to take action on Monday. Nevertheless, the DPO didn’t grant me bail; it was claimed that solely three individuals could be granted bail and that solely the state commissioner of police had the authority to grant me bail regardless of not having dedicated any offence. The DPO knowledgeable my brother that he heard that I used to be a graduate of Arithmetic and that I used to be clever, however not sensible, and promised to make use of me for example. One of many officers concerned in my case knowledgeable my brother that these arrested weren’t members of any cult and steered that my relations contact the state command for the reason that DPO was unable to grant me bail.
What occurred after that?
This led to a harsh second night time in detention on the police station. I used to be horrified to be listed as a suspected cultist in information experiences in reference to the Abeokuta killings on Tuesday morning. The report was attributed to the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola. Consequently, I used to be transferred from Ibara to the state headquarters at Eleweran on Tuesday; once I obtained there, I used to be transferred to the anti-cultism part and spent one other unjust night time in detention on the Eleweran Police Station. My household got here to the police station on Wednesday with a lawyer to bail me out.
Have been you permitted to see your lawyer?
No, regardless of the lawyer and my household’s mild and well mannered method, the assigned investigating police officer refused to let our lawyer see or converse to me. It appeared they had been making an attempt to cowl themselves as they realised I used to be not responsible and was struggling illegal detention. They didn’t enable my lawyer to see me till I used to be bailed out, most certainly as a result of they knew they’d detained me illegally. They later searched my telephone and located nothing incriminating in it.
Did you pay earlier than you had been launched?
Sure, I used to be launched after paying N30,000, which was the bottom quantity paid by anybody arrested that day. Nevertheless, they didn’t present a receipt for the cost.
How did you’re feeling whereas in detention?
It was a really traumatic expertise that I wouldn’t want on my worst enemy. I used to be deeply depressed and emotionally scarred.
How would you characterise your behaviour locally?
I’m relaxed in method and character; I’m not often fearful about different folks’s behaviour or issues that have to be carried out in particular person, and I don’t have any mates locally as a result of my childhood mates have all moved away from that space.
Did you attempt to focus on the legality of your detention with the officers?
Sure, the IPO knowledgeable me that I used to be being charged as a suspected cultist and could be transferred to Eleweran, the State Felony Investigation and Intelligence Division, for additional investigation. Nevertheless, I suspected that my detention on the Lafenwa Police Station was premeditated, as I used to be questioned about my involvement with cultists for 3 hours. So, after refusing their request, my telephone was taken from me and it was completely searched, however they discovered nothing incriminating on it. Their actions appeared supposed to implicate me, and it turned clear that they deliberate to cost the detainees as suspected cultists on the Lefenwa Police Station earlier than transferring us to the Ibara Police Station.
Have been there any penalties you confronted following your detention?
To be sincere, I felt deeply saddened once I found that my title had been talked about in nationwide newspapers and on tv. It had a big emotional affect on me. Once I inquired with the command’s public relations officer, she denied that the assertion, which included my title, originated from her workplace. Moreover, my lawyer requested her why she offered the suspects’ names to journalists, however instantly the PPRO distracted the lawyer and prevented him from asking any additional questions. Consequently, I’m nonetheless feeling unwell. Maybe seeing a revised report about me within the nationwide newspaper will present some reduction.
Have been you subjected to bodily abuse by the police whereas in custody?
Throughout my time in custody, I didn’t expertise any maltreatment or bodily abuse from the police. Nevertheless, I used to be assaulted on the location the place I used to be apprehended as a result of I refuted the accusation made towards me.
Have you ever ever encountered issues with the police on the Lafenwa station beforehand?
I’ve by no means had any points with the police. This go to to the police station was a primary for me. I think that they had been beneath stress from their bosses that they need to apprehend cultists terrorising the group that day, which could clarify their makes an attempt to implicate me.
Did you try to hunt redress or accountability for being detained with out a cause?
Certainly, we made an effort, however our final interplay with the state PPRO ended with our lawyer being persuaded by her techniques. It appears our lawyer lacked the assertiveness of others in his career. Following our departure from the station, he tried to influence my household, who had already determined to let the matter go. I had no selection however to respect their resolution. Even the commissioner of police suggested my father to affect my resolution to not take motion to hunt justice, as solely my father may dissuade me.
My father really helpful dropping the case because of the present state of affairs within the nation, suggesting that pursuing justice may drag on for as much as 5 years, probably derailing my prospects. He believed it was greatest to maneuver on, contemplating that I had a lot forward of me.
How has this ordeal modified your view of the authorized and legal justice system?
The expertise was profoundly adverse, highlighting an absence of due diligence within the police investigation earlier than I used to be labelled and publicised as a suspected cultist. What worsened the state of affairs was the media’s failure to confirm the claims or request proof earlier than reporting.
Have been you supplied with any type of psychological assist or counselling after your ordeal in police custody?
No, the one assist got here from my household, who performed a vital position in securing my freedom. Past that, there was no skilled counselling; it was as much as me to handle my psychological well-being. For the reason that incident, I haven’t engaged in any advocacy or activism towards police misconduct, primarily as a result of my household suggested towards any additional actions, and my reliance on them means I can’t proceed with out their approval. Alone, I really feel powerless to struggle this injustice, however with satisfactory assist from the general public, I’ll contemplate hiring a succesful lawyer to pursue the case
What measures do you consider can improve the justice system to avert related incidents sooner or later?
Guaranteeing that each accusation is backed by a complete and clever investigation earlier than making any public bulletins or detaining suspects will enhance the justice system. Moreover, securing swift and decisive judgments, together with penalties for individuals who contribute to wrongful detentions, can forestall future occurrences.
Did you encounter any obstacles when making an attempt to report or doc the wrongful detention?
Certainly, I confronted difficulties as my technique of communication had been confiscated, they usually didn’t even learn the assertion I offered. The investigating police officer didn’t even trouble to overview what I wrote.
How did the group react to what occurred to you?
My group confirmed sturdy assist. Members made quite a few visits to the police station on my behalf. They endeavoured to speak my true character and vouch for my integrity to the police and in addition emphasised the error in detaining me.
What steering would you supply to somebody who might expertise an identical ordeal?
People shouldn’t deal with such conditions calmly, however ought to promptly inform related our bodies and people corresponding to journalists, media shops, human rights organisations, and the police complaints response unit. It’s an incidence that may simply destroy one’s life.
Have you ever suffered any lasting penalties or psychological trauma out of your time in detention?
Sure, I confronted some challenges however fortunately, I’ve been recovering regularly with the assist of social media, in addition to my household and mates.
In what methods do you assume the police coaching could possibly be improved to forestall incidents of wrongful detention?
The federal government ought to implement steady coaching emphasising the adverse impacts of wrongful detention of people and strategies to forestall such practices.
Since your launch, have you ever noticed any enhancements in police procedures or attitudes in direction of detention?
Certainly, I’ve seen that the police now conduct extra thorough investigations earlier than releasing data to journalists.
How has this expertise influenced your views on civil rights and particular person freedom?
The expertise was eye-opening, highlighting that whereas the police are anticipated to deal with crime and preserve order impartially, there are cases the place their actions contradict these expectations.
What measures do you consider lawmakers ought to undertake to boost police accountability and conduct?
Lawmakers ought to be certain that the police are supplied with satisfactory welfare advantages, as I consider it will considerably scale back cases of misconduct and enhance their general effectiveness. Nevertheless, it is going to be Nigerians’ precedence if the federal government can promote group policing methods that construct belief between regulation enforcement brokers and the communities they serve. The lawmakers ought to encourage initiatives that contain group members in coverage growth, coaching programmes, and oversight. They need to additionally instruct police departments to gather and publicly report information on stops, frisks, arrests, use of false incidents, and deaths in custody. Transparency in these areas may help establish patterns of misconduct or bias, and the implementation of legal guidelines that require all regulation enforcement officers to put on physique cameras and equip police autos with sprint cameras. There should be strict insurance policies concerning when these cameras needs to be placed on, and penalties for non-compliance should be established.
