Ogun NSCDC probes alleged detention, torture of surveyor by officer
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By Sola AJIBIKE (Abeokuta)
NIGERIA: THE Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has commenced investigation into allegation of detention and torture levelled against one of its officers, Sobayo Onajole.
The Command Public Relations Officer, Kareem Olanrewaju, told GatewayMail on Wednesday, that action had commenced to find out what really transpired between Onajole and the victim, Taiwo Faleti, a surveyor.
He confirmed that the command had formally received information and subsequently petition in respect of the case of assault with the complainant requesting for N50 million as damages/compensation for the action of the NSCDC personnel.
“On the receipt of the petition, the Corps Commandant, Aboluwoye Akinwande directs that it should be thoroughly investigated and the outcome be brought to him in two weeks’ time,” Olanrewaju said.
The NSCDC image maker also said that Akinwande ordered the investigating team to find out whether Onajole acted in good faith, if he was there in his official capacity or otherwise, and to ascertain the complainant was actually brutalised.
He further said that other areas the panel should look into are to know whether the corps officer has genuine reason to be at scene, if he acted as a neighbour or in his official capacity and to know his level of culpability and see whether disciplinary action should be taken against him.
Olanrewaju added that the parties have also been invited to make statements so that comprehensive investigation could be conducted on the matter.
In this regard, he explained that Akinwande has, therefore, urged the parties involved to cooperate fully with those saddled with the responsibility of investigating the allegation.
“For this reason, the corps will like to urge members of the public to be patient and wait for the outcome of the issue,” he said, adding that “the NSCDC will not allow any of her men found culpable to go unpunished. The Corps promised to do justice no matter what it takes.”
Olanrewaju said that the command appreciates people who always come forward to present their case against erring and overzealous officers and men.
“It is in this manner that we can jointly initiate action for better security in Nigeria,” he stressed.
It would be recalled that Faleti had demanded N50 million compensation over the injuries suffered during his ordeal.
Faleti, through his lawyers, claimed that the money would be compensation for the general and specific damages for the economic, survival and untold hardship that he went through during the period.
Failure to comply, the victim threatened to sue the command over alleged battery and unlawful detention.
Faleti’s team of lawyers, led by Habeeb Whyte of Harmony Chambers, Abeokuta, had in a petition alleged that Onajole, led an eight-man torture team to violate their client’s human rights.
Copies of the petition, titled “Notice of Intimidation, threat to life, assault, battery, torturing and unlawful detention of Surveyor Taiwo Faleti,” was sent to the NSCDC Commandant, Public Complaint Bureau, Commissioner of Police and Director of Security Services.
The lawyers claimed that their client was picked up in his home on July 8 by Onajole, who is neighbour to Faleti, and handcuffed him for allegedly having a minor matrimonial issue, that has nothing to do with the corps official.
The lawyers in the petition signed by Whyte, further said that the corps official thereafter assaulted Taiwo after boasting that he (Onajole) had been having secret affairs with his (victim) wife.
The petitioner said thereafter the civil defence officer arrested Faleti, put him in handcuff and later detained him within the premises of the civil defence headquarters in Abeokuta, where he was subjected to another round of torture by eight officials of the corp.
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