The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, on Tuesday ordered the immediate redeployment of the Enu-Owa Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the Ondo West Local Council Area of the state.
The DPO was sanctioned for his unprofessional conduct in handling the case involving social media influencer Adefolarin Ayomiposi, popularly known as ‘Mandykiss’.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, the erring DPO had, under his watch, allowed the influencer to record and take pictures of some suspects who were in custody at the division.
A video had gone viral on social media a few days ago showing the moment Mandykiss stormed Ondo town to arrest a mother, Sabitu Akinwole, and her daughter, Oyindamola Akinwole, accusing them of making unpleasant remarks about her.
Infuriated by the development, the police boss disclosed that findings revealed that no police personnel accompanied Mandykiss during the purported arrest but that she was aided by her social media followers, who provided information leading to the location of the suspects.
He said, “The action of the command became necessary after a video surfaced online showing the said influencer recording and taking snapshots of suspects while in police custody at Enu-Owa Division.
“The incident, which has generated widespread public concern, prompted a swift internal review by the command. After effecting the arrest, she was seen recording a video inside her vehicle while conveying the suspects to the station.
“Upon arrival, she handed them over to the police but went further to take their photographs within the station premises and post them on her social media platforms, an act contrary to standard police procedure and inconsistent with the legal principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
“This sequence of events, CP Lawal noted, demonstrated a clear lapse in supervisory responsibility and professional judgement on the part of the Divisional Police Officer. He therefore directed the officer’s immediate redeployment, emphasising that the command will not condone any conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force.
“Reinforcing this stance, the Commissioner of Police stressed that recording or photographing suspects in custody constitutes a violation of established ethical standards and contravenes procedural directives guiding the management of suspects. He further reminded officers and men of the command to remain vigilant, impartial, and professional in all operations while ensuring that the rights of both suspects and complainants are protected in strict accordance with the law.”
