The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade has ordered the immediate removal of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Gowon Estate division, Chief Superintendent Austin Arase following the detention of a Lagos lawyer, Olumide Sonupe.
This action, according to the state police command’s spokesman, Superintendent Benjamin Hundeyin is pending a review of the DPo’s case by other supervisory authorities.
Fayoade also directed the Officer in Charge (Legal) of the command to reach out to the state branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to “enable a round table discussion towards preventing a recurrence of the avoidable incident and enhancing better police-lawyers relationship”.
On 1st January, the Lead Partner of Newworth LLP, Barrister Ayo Ademiluyi issued a statement that Arase ordered Sonupe’s arrest while the latter was “performing his professional obligations by visiting his client at the police station”.
Quoting Sonupe’s sister, one Mrs. Atinuke, Ademiluyi said: “On Saturday, 30th December, 2023, our colleague went to the Moshalashi Police Station, Gowon Estate, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State and he was detained by the Divisional Police Officer who claimed he entered illegally to the Cell Area after being cleared by the police officers to see his client, who is in custody.
“All pleas and calls on the DPO, one CSO Austin Arase to release our colleague has fallen on deaf ears as he has vowed to keep our colleague till New Year Day and has even dared the Nigerian Bar Association to do its worst.
“Our colleague is in a miserable health situation in custody as he is an ulcer patient”.
The statement warned that if Sonupe was not released, all branches of the NBA would “occupy the Moshalashi Police Station at Gowon Estate”.
On 1st January, Ademiluyi announced that Sonupe has been released. He said that appropriate organs of the NBA should set in motion appropriate actions against the DPO “to ensure that the Police High Command bring him to book for this untoward action”.
Sonupe was hospitalised after his release from the police cell.
In a statement on this verified X page, which announced Arase’s removal as DPO, Hundeyin said that the command would continue to “uphold the rule of law, while not hesitating to sanction any officer found engaging in unprofessional, unethical and discreditable conduct”.
BAMGBELU ADENIYI AKINYEMI
10 January 2024 at 6:20 pm
That was a laudable & proactive decision by the commissioner. If all & sundry are flogged into position when they misbehaved, then we are sure to have a better same & discipline society.
The police gain my respect for this.
Bravo