The Lagos state police commanded have spoken out in defense of the police officer who brutally assaulted a 29-year-old photographer, Ejeh Smith, and his wife, Grace, claiming the officer was drunk on the night of the incident.
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| Grace, Lagos Police Commissioner, Cornelius Aderanti and Ejeh |
The police authorities also said that the couple held the policeman in a fierce confrontation which resulted to an ugly scenario, adding that since the incident occurred, they have declined to tender explanations to the police.
Speaking on the matter, DSP Kenneth Nwosu, who is the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, said the police had however detained the officer Dada Ogunsanya. He also assured members of the public that justice would be served.
The Lagos police’s defence came as the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, ordered a full scale investigation into the case.
Media outlets had reported on Wednesday that a photographer, Ejeh Smith, and his wife, Grace, were on their way home in a taxi they boarded at Obalende. The cab was reportedly stopped at the Lekki Roundabout by a team of policemen patrolling the area.
According to the taxi driver, Ndubuisi Iheaka, the police corporal checked the boot of the car before demanding his driving licence.
Iheaka said while he was about getting the driving licence, Ogunsanya beamed his torchlight on his passengers.
The couple understandably protested the action, telling the officer that the inner lights of the vehicle, which were on, was enough for him to see their faces.
The policeman, angered by their interference, reportedly asked them to step out of the car after which an argument ensued then turned into a scuffle.
In the process of the scuffle, the policeman allegedly punched Ejeh in the face and also brutalized his face with the butt of his rifle. It went on as he further slapped Grace and stepped on her stomach.
The incident and pictures of the seriously wounded couple soon went online and sparked lots of rage as people have demanded that the officer be punished accordingly.
The police spokesman, Nwosu, while commenting on the reports, said the police had commenced disciplinary action against the corporal.
It was gathered that the erring police officer Ogunsanya had been in the Nigeria Police Force for 11 years.
Nwosu siad:
“Investigation is ongoing because as a command, we are alive to our responsibility and we do not condone any act of incivility to members of the public.
“However, the police corporal is alleging that the couple fought him in uniform. The man in question (Ejeh) was alleged to be drunk, and since that incident happened, he has refused to make statements to the police. If you have a good case, why will you say you don’t want to make statement?
“The Ikoyi DPO they are mentioning said she arrived at the scene and ordered all of them to be taken to the station. She was the one who even issued medical forms to them so they could go to the hospital.
“The man (Ejeh) told her (DPO) that he had taken her picture and would send it to his pastor to pray against her. I was told that he made the station uncomfortable. Can that be right? Is that the way to behave?
“We are interested in flushing out the bad eggs in the system and if this officer that has been accused is one of them, we will flush him out.”He also said that Ogunsanya had been moved from the Ikoyi Police Division to their headquarters where he was being detained.
Reacting to what the police had claimed, Ejeh said was not drunk on the night of the incident, adding that the police were clearly making up allegations against him.
Ejeh said:
“I was not drunk that night because I was coming from Ikeja where I worked. I met my wife at Obalende from where we took the cab. I was not drunk at all.
“I also fault the claim that I fought with the policeman because nothing like that happened. He was the one who hit me with his rifle in the eye, so how can a man who could barely see fight again?
“And yes, I told them I couldn’t make statement because my eyesight had been affected. I cannot see with one eye right now. I told our family lawyer about this and he said he would write a petition where he will state the case for us.”Meanwhile, Mr. Sulaiman Abba, the Inspector General of Police, has ordered the matter to be investigated fully.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the police spokesperson Emmanuel Ojukwu, all officers implicated in the case would be penalized.
The statement said:
“The attention of the Police High Command has been drawn to a viral media story alleging police incivility to a couple in Ikoyi, Lagos.
“The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has ordered a full scale investigation into the matter in line with his avowed commitment to protect and uphold the human rights of all Nigerians and residents therein.
“The officer involved has been identified and is already undergoing administrative trial. All other officers whose conduct did not speak well in the incident are also being sanctioned, preparatory to further necessary action.”
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