DPO In Trouble For Allegedly Using Police Officers To Recover Debt

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The Divisional Police Officer, FESTAC Command, Lagos, CSP  Haruna Abiola, has landed in trouble over allegedly using his officers to arrest a company worker, Kingsley Chukwuma, in order to recover N5m debt paid into the company’s account. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the company in question is Nirvana Rock Solid Limited, whose Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, is one Mrs. Obiaku Akwiwu-Nwadike.

The DPO was said to have directed one Inspector Mohammed Oshidu to arrest Kingsley Chukwuma who was Personal Assistant to Mrs. Nwadike. He was alleged to have been manhandled, detained and subjected him to inhuman treatment, which has become a subject of litigation before the Lagos State High Court.

In a suit filed before the Court through Kingsley Chukwuma’s Counsel, Barrister Adejumo Omobolaji Chambers, he is asking for N2m both cost of filing the suit, unlawful arrest, intimidation, and harassment in breach of his fundamental human rights in line with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

In the originating summons on the suit with number, 547832020, the applicant sought the followings: A declaration that his arrest on 12th October 2020 and subsequent detention in lieu of Nirvana Rock solid Limited under the purported investigation when he is not the director or alter ego of the company is unlawful, unjust, unconstitutional and breach of right for human dignity of human person. An order of injunction restraining the respondents namely the police Service Commission, IGP, Commissioner of Police, the Divisional Police Officer, FESTAC Command and Tony Obioha from harassing, restricting, molesting or any of inhuman treatment against the applicant.

That the Respondents to tender unreserved apology to the applicant to two widely circulating National newspapers and the cost and compensation in the sum of N2m for the applicant.

In the affidavit sworn by the applicant, Kingsley Chukwuma, it stated he works as Personal Assistant to Mrs. Obiaku Akwiwu, the Chairman/CEO of Nirvana Rock Solid limited.

That one Mrs. Adefunke Oyeyemi, a staff of Mark Calthers Consulting seconded to Nirvana Rock Solid Limited as Sales Supervisor, placed an order for some goods on behalf of undisclosed customer and paid N5m into the company’s account.

It stated that Mrs. Adefunke Oyeyemi had been owing the company N3m for the goods she collected from the company in her name. 

That the company exercised its right of lien to set off the N3m debt she owed and there was no contract between one of the respondents, Tony Obioha, who reported the matter to the Police at FESTAC Command and he was wrongly arrested and detained.

It stated that his detention caused him severe trauma, reputational damage, pain, disrespect, humiliation not appropriate for in convicted person.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. But the whole issue came from the DPO, CSP Abiola, who was said to have ordered the arrest of Kingsley Chukwuma.