Timothy Olaniyi
Eko Hot Blog reports that an unknown policeman, on Wednesday, allegedly beat up a Lagos-based lawyer, Timothy Olaniyi, who was at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja to find out about a client who was arrested in February.
The lawyer, who alleged that he was beaten like a condemned criminal, disclosed his plight in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“I am Timothy Olamide Olaniyi, a lawyer from Lagos. I am contacting you [police authorities] in respect of the merciless beating I received from a police officer at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja this morning,” he wrote.
“I went there on behalf of my colleague to find out about a client who was arrested sometimes last month but only for me to get there and was beating like a condemned criminal.”
Olaniyi also alleged that the police officer who beat him told him that lawyers are not supposed to handle all cases.
“One of the officers told me that not all cases lawyers handle. I went there with all manner of respect and humility,” he added.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade and lawyer, Timothy Olaniyi
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade, who met Olaniyi hours after the alleged incident, has assured the identification of the officer and prompt disciplinary measures.
In a statement, the Lagos police command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, revealed that the culprit was with a group of police officers who came from outside Lagos State to take over suspects arrested for them by the command.
He also disclosed that the visiting police officers have been summoned for an identification parade to enable the lawyer identify the police officer in question.
“Upon receipt of a tweet made by a lawyer, one Timothy Olamide Olaniyi, alleging that a police officer assaulted him within the premises of the Lagos State Command headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, mni immediately invited him to facilitate appropriate actions,” Hundeyin said.
“Investigations so far reveal that the lawyer had the encounter at about 0930 hours with some police officers who came from outside Lagos State to take over suspects arrested for them by the Lagos State Police Command. These visiting police officers have been summoned for an identification parade to enable the lawyer identify the police officer in question.
“Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command has been in constant touch with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) leadership, especially Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN who heads the Security Agencies Relations Committee (SARC) of the Association.
“The NBA has been assured that the Command would leave no stone unturned to identify the officer behind the unprofessional act and mete out appropriate sanctions as the alleged misconduct is totally condemned and against the ethics of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Command uses this medium once again to encourage Lagosians to reach out to the Complaint Response Unit (lagos.npf.gov.ng) or any senior officer (in person or via the already publicised phone numbers) when they have complaints against police action.”
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