ActionAid Nigeria faults police on arrest of Damola Olatunji, demands charges be dropped.
By Kola Adeyemi
Abuja – ActionAid Nigeria has called on the Nigerian Police Force to put a stop to its personnel’s penchant for
intimidation, brutality, and the gross violation of the rights of Nigerian citizens.
The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), Ene Obi made the call in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to her, ActionAid Nigeria is appalled by the recent actions of members of Oke-Odo and Area P Police Stations at Abule Egba and Ayobo areas of Lagos
respectively, leading to the arrest of one of ActionAid Nigeria’s Social Justice Influencers, Actor and
Director, Damola Olatunji and his Assistant.
” We have been following the unfolding events with keen interest and it is important to state that the arrest and court charges against Mr. Olatunji are unnecessary and merely a show of force and power,” Ene Obi said.
Shedding light on the situation that led to the arrest of ActionAid’s Social Justice Influencer, Obi said
the facts of the situation as recounted by Olatunji are:
“Whilst held in traffic along Abule-Egba road, he witnessed and spoke against Police
intimidation and harassment of a motorcycle rider, popularly called Okada in Lagos.
” This led to his harassment and eventual arrest.
“Damola and his PA recorded their own harassment with their phones and were further
assaulted as a result.
“The Policemen slapped the Assistant, seized his phones and both were manhandled and arrested like common criminals.
“Both have now been charged to court, albeit, presently on bail of N500,000 each and two sureties,” She stated.
Obi reiterated that ‘‘Nigerians should feel safe to speak up against injustice and security agencies should desist from using brute arbitrary power and control as instruments for brutality, harassment,
and intimidation.
” The Nigerian Police Force shouldn’t be portrayed as an agency for intimidating and
harassing the public.”
The country Director of “ActionAid Nigeria then demanded that charges against Damola Olatunji and his
Assistant on this case, be dropped with immediate effect.
” The situation need not degenerate into a
show of power between citizens and a Security Agency.
” ActionAid Nigeria is watching and monitoring this case closely and will continue to speak against this
illegitimate arrest and unwarranted assault on its citizens, ‘’ She stated. ( vitalnews)
