Fasuba Olabode, a commissioner of police in charge of the Lagos Police College, has ordered the detention and trial of Bright Idiare, an inspector of police, who planned to protect the Ikeja Barracks from mob attack in August......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
Sources in the Lagos Police Command, speaking with FIJ without authorisation to speak to the press, said Olabode accused Idiare and a Superintendent of Police known as ‘CY’ of attempting to implement a sit-at-home order at the Ikeja Police Barracks in early August in support of the #EndBadGovernance protest.
Following this accusation, Olabode ordered the immediate eviction of both men from the Police Barracks in Ikeja on August 13.
A video clip made available to FIJ shows policemen removing CY’s personal effects from his apartment in the barracks on August 13 in compliance with Olabode’s directive.
However, FIJ learnt later that the CP granted a one-month eviction notice instead. Idiare was not as lucky, as his eviction took effect immediately.
FIJ gathered that Idiare was detained at the police college, following this eviction, and may be tried and dismissed on Monday.
“Before the protest, policemen in the barracks held meetings to discuss the possibility of people hijacking the protest and coming into the barracks to cause mayhem,” a source told FIJ.
“It almost happened during the #EndSARS protest but the policemen stood against the hoodlums. So, this time, they agreed during the meeting that since the barracks had two gates, they would close one for some time until they were sure about the safety of the barracks and its occupants, especially their wives and children.
“After the meeting, authorities in charge of the barracks learnt of the decision. Apparently, members of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) own shops in the barracks, and the shop leader went to Olabode to report the development.
“Olabode ordered that the gates be thrown open. He then asked for SP CY; the leader of the barracks, and Idiare; his provost, to meet him in his office for a meeting. During the meeting, he issued them eviction notices. He said they were the ones disturbing his wife from collecting money from people who come to park cars in the barracks.”
This source added that all policemen in the command were aware that wives of successive CPs in charge of the barracks would usually collect fees for vehicle owners to park within the premises and this allowed civilians easy access into the property.
FIJ sent Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, a video of the eviction and details of the source’s narration on August 13, but he did not respond. On Saturday, he told FIJ he could not speak for the Police College.
When FIJ called ASP Owajulaye Saka, Police College spokesman, he told FIJ that he was not aware of the matter. Saka said he would find out and get back to FIJ.
On Saturday, FIJ also called Olabode, but he replied saying, “Is that why you are calling me? Cut off, cut off the story.” Afterwards, he dropped the call without responding to the claims.
