How Area Commander Locked Up Lagos Magistrate Inside Cell At Area D Command
MICHAEL AKINOLA
The Area D Police Command headquarters in Mushin, Lagos State, was thrown into confusion following the alleged arrest and detention of a female Magistrate, who reportedly visited the Command on routine check of suspects in the cell by the Area Commander, ACP Aliko Dankoli.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on Monday 30th May, 2022, when the Magistrate in question, (name withheld), went to the Command with her team for routine check at the Command’s cell as was done in other Divisions and Commands across the State.
Aside that the Magistrate was arrested and humiliated, she was said to have been locked up inside the cell as ordered by ACP Dankoli over allegations that the Magistrate went to check the suspects detained in the cell without his permission, whereas his second in Command was aware of their visit.
This led to serious disagreement between Dankoli and his second in command and there was confusion at the Command, which led to temporary break down of law and order over the shouting match between the duo.
It took the intervention of the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, before the Magistrate was later released and allowed to go home having been humiliated at the Command.
According to Police sources, the Magistrate had gone to the Command just as they usually visit other Police Stations to check on suspects especially on illegally detained persons in the cell and to give legal advice to the Police.
It was not the first time they were going to the Commands to perform such duties across the State in line with the policy of the Lagos State Judiciary, which partners with the Police over congestion of Police cells in the State.
However, on this particular day, the Area Commander, ACP Dankoli, was having briefing with the DPOs within the Area D Command when he received information that the Magistrate came to the Command on routine check of the cells said to be jam-packed with suspects.
He was said to have become angry as he got up and ordered the arrest of the Magistrate and detention inside the cell to the surprise of the senior Police officers including his second in Command, who was said to be aware of the visit of the Magistrate to the Command.
It was not certain if the matter has been resolved between the Police and the Lagos State Judiciary, which actually sent the Magistrate for the routine duty at the Command.
When the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, was contacted on his phone numbers to ascertain the situation of the matter, his phone rang and he did not pick several calls made to him.
The residents of Mushin, who heard the shouting match between the Area Commander, ACP Dankoli and his second in Command on that day, were shocked over what happened to the innocent woman, who went to perform her duty but was humiliated in the process.
P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the Lagos State Judiciary were said to have moved into the matter and engaged the Police high authority over the matter in order to avoid such humiliation in the future.
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The second in-command supposed have informed his boss (area commander) of the magistrate visit and wait for his superior approval before grating access to the magistrate
The was barbaric, parochial and disgraceful
The police officer had acted as person in banana republic
This is a disrespect to human rights however. a sin will not go unpunished
The officer in question should be brought to book in no distance time
It’ll continue to happen in as much as the uniform personnel believe they’re superior to all of us, in as much as they don’t believe that they are public servants…
The police officer must be very stupid. He should be arrested and prosecuted at once to serve as deterrent to other officers who carry out their duties unprofessionally.
DCP Dankoli ought to be summarily dismissed from service; nothing more nothing less. This will serve as deterrent to others. A very arrogant officer whose arrogance should be heavily sanctioned.
The area commander must be reprimanded for going overboard. He has no right whatsoever to humiliates the magistrates because of obvious internal administrative lapses within his command.
His actions are unbecoming of a leader/police officer and has acted very unprofessionally. Even if nobody in his command is aware of the visit of the magistrate, there better ways to treat the matter without maltreatment of the magistrate
Obviously u would have done same if u were in the position of the Area Commander (power drunk bigots) as stated in the reports that wasn’t the first visit…..
@Prince Michael so you think a second in command cannot use his discretion on such a simple matter, which wasn’t the first time such a visit was being made? I shake my head
Was the lagos state governor not restricted access to an estate in his state same officer who humiliated him is still serving in Lagos state.. Southerners are powerless in their own country
@Olakitan Wellington, thank you for the response Ma. Even the humiliation these guys subject lawyers to should be a cause of concern to us all.
This will not go unchecked in a same society. The Area Commander must be quizzed and reprimanded for this barbaric behaviour.
Si, his second in command do not have that power to grant the Magistrate access to official routine check?
Anyway, we shall monitor the situation and see what the Superior authority will do in this case.
That magistrate should ensure the ACP gets arrested and serve at least a week in ikoyi prison. Nothing less will suffice
The ACP is quite aware of the provisions of Administration of criminal justice Act, which empowers magistrates to carry out such routine visits to police detention cells ensure compliance with fundamental human rights of persons in police and other security agent’s custody as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution.It ,means he wants totalitarian power,not be checked.He should be dismissed and prosecuted.