DPO In A Mess Over Illegal Detention of Female Journalist

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Isheri Oshun Division in Lagos, CSP Camelius Emordi   has been enmeshed in detention scam after he reportedly detained a female journalist and a courier agent for several  days over false information brought by fellow senior police officer.

The suspects, Mrs Princess Loveline Agbonifo, publisher of Voice of Nigeria, (VON) Magazine and a courier agent, Okon Etta were arrested at their Ikotun office and remanded in detention despite efforts by relatives and associates to stand as sureties for them.

The DPO alleged that the suspects were fraudsters but it turned out that the senior officer, SP Agbonabbare Lucky attached to Police Training School, Ikeja.  sold a dummy to him.

It took the intervention of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIGP, and Area Commander, ACP, Austines Akika before the suspects were later released after several days in police captivity.

The embattled DPO said he was misled by one Superintendent of police attached to Police Training College, Ikeja, SP Agbonabbare Lucky who initiated the  arrest and detention of the suspects.

He said he fell into the trap because he did not make proper investigation before he detained them.

According to the DPO, one SP Lucky came to him and reported that the victims, Agbonifo and courier agent, Okon Etta wanted to dupe him through the letter they wanted to serve him.

Emordi said he believed Lucky and arrested the two suspects and detained them for those days.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the information turned out to be false after the officials of EcoBank PLC came to the station and told the police that the letter was genuine and the bank management decided to serve the letter through courier service run by Etta.

However, before the DPO realized the blunder he committed and apologized, the matter has been reported to the police higher authorities who ordered for investigation.

Narrating what happened, Agbonifo told P.M.EXPRESS that Etta was his neighbour and they shared office at the plaza where she runs courier services.

She said the bank staff came to Etta’s office and registered the letter to deliver to Lucky and when Etta went to Lucky’s house, she was apprehended and handed over to the DPO.

Etta said when she went there, the DPO ordered her arrested and she also was detained.

When P.M.EXPRESS sought Lucky’s side, he said the DPO knew everything before he carried out the arrest and there was no way he would have deceived him.

He said he knew that the letter came from EcoBank and he did not want to receive the letter and that was why he contacted the DPO.

Agbonifo said that he will do everything possible to ensure that those behind the conspiracy are brought to book.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the police have ordered investigation to take appropriate actions against the culprits.