The Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police (IG), Mr.
Solomon Arase, over the detention of one its members, Yomi Olomofe.
In the petition through the counsel to NUJ,
Jiti Ogunye, the NUJ and Olomofe are seeking for a public apology, assurance of
Olomofe’s safety, N100m compensation for breach of fundamental rights adding that
Omolafe needed urgent medical attention.
“The Nigeria Police Force, under your watch, has
done nothing to bring the perpetrators of this dastardly act of attempted
murder to justice for nine (9) months is a monumental scandal. But that our
client could be framed up and the Police Force, who ought to be his “friend”,
could be a willing ally or tool of persecution in the hands of those who are
still hell-bent on eliminating our client, is worse than a scandal. It is an
unmitigated tragedy of policing and law-enforcement in Nigeria.
“Our position is that although the Police is
vested with powers of arrest and detention under the Police Act, Criminal
Procedure Act, the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos, 2011, and
the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, there is no lawful
excuse or justification for the arrest and detention of our client, his release
from Police custody within twenty-four (24) hours in seeming compliance with
the provision of Section 35 of the Constitution, notwithstanding. Our client’s
rights to the dignity of the human person and personal liberty, guaranteed by
Sections 34 and 35 of the Constitution, have been violated.
"And his right to
freedom of expression and the press under Section 39 of the same Constitution,
as a practicing journalist, who is being cowed, intimidated and harassed [in
order to compel him into self-censorship], is implicated.
“In the circumstances, we hereby request, that
the Nigeria Police Force refrain from further violating the rights of our
client, at the instance of his assailants and tormentors, as described above.
“Now that the Nigeria Police Force has not only
refused to investigate the complaint of our client, with a view to bringing
those who intended and attempted to murder him to justice, but also has joined
in the abuse of our client’s fundamental human rights, the Nigeria Police Force
and the Inspector-General of Police should assure our client, and his family of
their continued safety.
“The Nigeria Police Force should investigate the dormant complaint of our
client, and bring his assailants, who are still threatening his life, to
justice.
“For the aforementioned violation of his rights,
the Nigeria Police Force should pay the sum of N100 million damages to our
client, within 21 days of delivery of this petition; and
“That the Inspector-General of Police, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, should, within 21 days of delivery of this petition, tender a public apology to our client, and the apology should be published in three national newspapers for the aforesaid violation of our client’s fundamental rights.
“That the Inspector-General of Police, on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force, should, within 21 days of delivery of this petition, tender a public apology to our client, and the apology should be published in three national newspapers for the aforesaid violation of our client’s fundamental rights.
“If the Nigeria Police Force refuses, neglects or
fails to comply with the demands made herein, within 21 days of delivery of
this letter, we shall not hesitate to institute a legal action against the
Nigeria Police Force and your good self to secure the enforcement of the
fundamental rights of our client, in a court of law with requisite
jurisdiction,” the petition reads.
No comments:
Post a Comment