There was confusion on the
premises of Stanbic IBTC in the Ifo area of Ogun State after a banker, Mr.
Ogidan Bolaji, was hit with the butt of a gun by a police officer identified as
Kayode Ojo, leaving the
25-year-old victim with a deep cut on his face.
premises of Stanbic IBTC in the Ifo area of Ogun State after a banker, Mr.
Ogidan Bolaji, was hit with the butt of a gun by a police officer identified as
Kayode Ojo, leaving the
25-year-old victim with a deep cut on his face.
The matter, which was said to have
been reported at the Sango Police Station, was however, said to have been
dismissed by the police authorities.
been reported at the Sango Police Station, was however, said to have been
dismissed by the police authorities.
Bolaji, an indigene of Ewekoro
area of the state, said he wanted justice in the matter.
area of the state, said he wanted justice in the matter.
He said he had alighted from his
car to make withdrawal from the bank’s ATM when he decided to ease himself.
car to make withdrawal from the bank’s ATM when he decided to ease himself.
He said, “I was coming from Ifo
with a neighbour. But, on our way, I discovered I was cash-strapped, and needed
to make a withdrawal. So, we stopped by at Alisaba, in Ado Odo Ota where the
bank is located.
with a neighbour. But, on our way, I discovered I was cash-strapped, and needed
to make a withdrawal. So, we stopped by at Alisaba, in Ado Odo Ota where the
bank is located.
“We parked outside their premises
and on getting to the ATM, the security guard said there was no network.
and on getting to the ATM, the security guard said there was no network.
“I was so pressed that I had to
urinate beside my car. Before I knew it, a policeman, came out and without any
questioning, hit me with his rod. I asked him what I did wrong, but instead of
a reply, he slapped me.
urinate beside my car. Before I knew it, a policeman, came out and without any
questioning, hit me with his rod. I asked him what I did wrong, but instead of
a reply, he slapped me.
“The man in my car and some other
security men around the bank came out to intervene. My neighbour was trying to
question the policeman on why he slapped me, instead, he cocked his gun and
pointed it at me, and I had to run away.
security men around the bank came out to intervene. My neighbour was trying to
question the policeman on why he slapped me, instead, he cocked his gun and
pointed it at me, and I had to run away.
“I told people to caution him not
to fire a shot. I was just a bit unfortunate that he caught me at a close
corner and I did not have an escape route. He used the butt of the gun to hit
me on my face and I sustained a deep cut.”
to fire a shot. I was just a bit unfortunate that he caught me at a close
corner and I did not have an escape route. He used the butt of the gun to hit
me on my face and I sustained a deep cut.”
He said he was rushed to a
hospital because he could not go to the station with a blood-stained face.
hospital because he could not go to the station with a blood-stained face.
After treatment, Ogidan said he
reported at the Sango Police Station but was disappointed as the police asked
him to settle the matter with the police officer.
reported at the Sango Police Station but was disappointed as the police asked
him to settle the matter with the police officer.
He said, “The police changed the
story and said I and my friend were drunk, and we were peeing around the whole
premises without having any transaction in the bank, which were all lies.
story and said I and my friend were drunk, and we were peeing around the whole
premises without having any transaction in the bank, which were all lies.
“At the end of the day, the police
said we should go and settle and the police officer should pay my hospital
bill.
said we should go and settle and the police officer should pay my hospital
bill.
“We were also forced to make a
statement of withdrawal. I don’t want this matter to die like this because I
have been harassed unjustly.”
statement of withdrawal. I don’t want this matter to die like this because I
have been harassed unjustly.”
Another eyewitness, who claimed to
be the man with Ogidan in the car, Mr. Kehinde Idowu, corroborated the story.
be the man with Ogidan in the car, Mr. Kehinde Idowu, corroborated the story.
He said that the police officer
had first chased Ogidan around the premises with the gun before hitting his
face with its butt.
had first chased Ogidan around the premises with the gun before hitting his
face with its butt.
He added, “We will still take up
the matter. I was personally disappointed at what the police told us at the
station, but you know in Nigeria if you don’t know anybody, you will just
suffer in vain.”
the matter. I was personally disappointed at what the police told us at the
station, but you know in Nigeria if you don’t know anybody, you will just
suffer in vain.”
The Police Public Relations
Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, told reporters he was not aware of the
incident.
Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, told reporters he was not aware of the
incident.
He said, “If they disappointed him
in Ota, he should have gone to the Commissioner of Police. It is if the CP disappoints
him that he should approach the press for justice. We should try to educate our
people. I can’t confirm the story because I am not aware. Let him come to the
command and I will personally investigate it and make sure he gets justice.”
in Ota, he should have gone to the Commissioner of Police. It is if the CP disappoints
him that he should approach the press for justice. We should try to educate our
people. I can’t confirm the story because I am not aware. Let him come to the
command and I will personally investigate it and make sure he gets justice.”
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
