Police remove DPO over lawyer’s illegal detention

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Gowon Estate Division, in Lagos State, has been removed for allegedly detaining a lawyer who was seeking justice for his client.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the removal in a statement on Wednesday.

According to Hundeyin, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, ordered the immediate removal of the officer from the division.

He said that this followed the conclusion of investigations into the allegations made against the DPO, as published in the media on Jan. 4.

He said that the DPO would be removed pending a review of his case by other supervisory authorities.

“The CP had earlier ordered a thorough investigation into the matter upon receipt of the publication.

“CP Fayoade has equally directed the OC Legal of the Command to initiate steps to reach out to the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos State Branch, to enable a round table discussion.

“The meeting is towards preventing a recurrence of the avoidable incident and enhancing better Police-Lawyers relationship,” he said.

The spokesperson said that the command would continue to uphold the rule of law and sanction any officer found wanting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Lagos-based lawyer, Olumide Sonupe, was hospitalised after detention by the police.

Sonupe was seeking the bail of his client at the Moshalashi Police Station in the Alimosho area of the state on Dec. 30, 2023.