CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
In what seem to be a direct taunt at Lagos State Commissioner of police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, a 29-year old suspected cult leader, Ibrahim Balogun, popularly known as Small Jpron, said his officers allegedly facilitated his freedom from prison over five murder cases he had before Lagos courts.
Owoseni had ordered the re-arrest of Balogun after he got an information that the suspected criminal was out of prison custody where he was remanded after an allegations that he bribed police officers and court officials to ensure his release from prison.
Balogun was earlier this year arrested and charged before a Lagos courts where he was remanded in prison custody for the alleged murder.
He was arrested over the cult war in Shomolu and Bariga areas where several lives were lost and properties destroyed.
However, P.M.EXPRESS gathered that he did not spend more than two weeks before he was freed despite the glaring evidence against him and his confessional statement.
But angry Owoseni, on getting wind of the release ordered his re-arrest.
On Thursday, he was arrested and paraded with other criminal suspects involved in kidnapping, armed robbery, car snatching among others where he confessed he bribed his way out from prison.
Balogun, while revealing what transpired that led to his arrest for the second time, confessed that he connived with some police officers and court officials who ensured he was released and freed from the cases before the courts.
Owoseni, however said he had ordered an investigation into the allegations and how the officers and if any of them was found culpable.
The Lagos police said any officer found culpable will be dealt with, while also ordered full investigation on all the murder cases Balogun was facing before he was freed.
While speaking with the press during the parade, Balogun reconfirmed his earlier revelations that he actually sort himself out of prison through the assistance of police officers and court officials who he did not mention their names except one particular officer (name withheld).
“Yes I was involved in murders cases which I confessed last time during the cult war and was charged to court and was released,” he told journalists.
He said since he was freed, he had not engaged in any fight or killed anybody but was surprised that he was told that the CP wanted to see him and followed them only to be arrested and paraded.
He said when he came out of prison, there was peace initiative by the warring factions and all the parties have agreed to embrace peace among the court group.
Owoseni said Balogun will be charged to court after the conclusion of investigation.