Some operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have been accused of detaining disc jockey, Olashile Balogun, for a crime he did not commit.
The family alleged that Olashile was detained for his friend’s crime by men of the New Oko Oba Police Station.
The officers were said to have tortured the DJ for three days in the station’s detention.
Olashile’s brother, Francis Balogun, said that he received a call from the victim’s pregnant wife, telling him that he was whisked away by operatives of the station, while in his house on Olisa Street, New Oko Oba, Lagos, on December 19 around 10.52pm.
Narrating what transpired, Francis said, “On getting there, I was told to come back the following morning. I reached there that morning and met the IPO and she told me that my brother’s friend, Sunday, burgled the room of a lady, who is a tenant in the compound, and carted away valuables. I was told that they saw him give my brother a bag. When the police couldn’t see Sunday, they came to pick up my brother that night.
“I visited the scene of the incident to confirm that the room was burgled and also went back to the police station to tell them that my brother could not be held responsible for a crime committed by his friend, an action that is against the police code of conduct. They refused to hear me out, so I went to meet the lady at home and told her that she must visit the station with me. She wasn’t forthcoming but I stood my ground and she later followed me to the station.
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“The police told her to go home and leave me alone but I said she wasn’t going anywhere until we got to the root of the matter. I said if they wanted to charge my brother to court they should do that and if they allowed her to leave for her house I would still go to her house and disturb her because my brother was innocent.
“Then the DCO told the IPO to arrest me, saying I was threatening the lady. I was placed at the counter. I called my lawyer and he came and told them that they had no case against me and after much persuasion, I was released.
“The lady said my brother was not a party to the crime and even wrote a statement to that effect that the police should release him. But after she left, the police did not release my brother and started demanding money for his release.”
Francis said he begged them for his brother’s release but the police refused.
He said he returned to the station on the third day of his brother’s detention.
“I give them the money before he was released to me. I also bought drinks for them. Olashile was harassed. He has been traumatised since he came out of the station, refusing to eat, bathe or talk because of what happened to him,” he added.
Olashile confirmed that Sunday was his friend but he, however, denied collecting any bag from him on the day of the incident.