Alleged Frame-up/ Unlawful Detention of a Lagos University Lecturer, Salami: Human Rights Group, HURMA Petitions AIG Zone 2 for Investigation – Rights Monitors

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The Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) has petitioned the AIG Zone 2 office for a prompt and indepth Investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recent arrest and detention of a Lagos University Lecturer, Mr. Idris Adebanjo Salami whose family petitioned the office of the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA Global Resource Initiative) with a SOS message.

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Mr. Salami Adebanjo Idris, a lecturer in Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin was said in the Adesada Oganjugbe’s family petition to HURMA office, to have been invited by the DPO of Noforija, in Epe for a peace talk between the Adesada Oganjugbe family and one alleged land grabber who was encroaching the family’s land and destroying built Properties. However on response to the DPO’s invitation, the family was surprised to see the DPO arrived with the accused and subsequently detained Mr. Idris Salami who is the family secretary, on a framed-up charges of bunkering activities upon which he was detained till the following day and later transferred to Zone 2 Command.

The petition of HURMA signed by the Executive Director, Comrade Buna Olaitan Isiak under the title:
“ALLEGED CONSPIRACY BETWEEN POLICE DPO AT NOFORIJA, EPE WITH LAND GRABBERS TO ILLEGALLY AND UNLAWFULLY DETAINED A LAGOS UNIVERSITY LECTURER, MR. IDRIS A. SALAMI. A Request for Urgent Investigation” explained how Mr. Salami Idris was maltreated. It further request protection for his life and that of his family members.

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“Our office has received a petition over alleged connivance of the DPO of the Nigeria Police Force Divisional Headquarters, Noforija, Lagos, CSP Gregory Ikpehkia with a known Land Grabber and his cohorts to illegally and unlawfully detaine a lecturer of Lagos State University of Education, Ijanikin, Mr. Idris Adebanjo Salami.
“According to information made available to HURMA, the Land Grabbers allegedly headed by Mr. Abdul Rasak Rafiu alias OTTO forcefully entered the OTARA LAND of Adesada Oganjugbe family in Igbooye town which falls in both Epe Local Government of Lagos State and Ijebu-Ode Local Government of Ogun State sometimes in August, 2023 and demolished the survey and boundaries beacons, fences, corner pieces, foundations, building materials and crops plantation.
“The affected family, we are made to understand, wrote petition against them through her lawyer to Area J Police Command, Elemoro but they refused to honour the invitation of the Police.

“Based on their refusal to honour the invitation of Area J Police Command, Mr. Salami who is the General Secretary of the family and whose properties were also demolished on the land wrote another petition against the hoodlums/land grabbers to AIG, Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State and copied Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice and other Police formations in the State.

“Consequently, copy of the Petition was sent to the DPO of Noforija who spoke with Mr. Salami through the despatch person that he wants to see him the following day, Friday, September 15, 2023 for mediation between the parties. Mr. Salami being a respecter of law enforcement agencies and member of PCRC of Noforija Division, honoured the DPO and went to the Station with two (2) family members and his lawyer. While they were waiting for the DPO, Mr. Salami who was called from Igbooye informed the DPO on phone that his men and Patrol Van of the Division were on OTARA LAND securing the hoodlums/Land Grabbers grading their family land and demolishing members properties with bulldozer and the DPO promised he would withdraw his men and the Patrol Van from the scene of the incident.

“Surprisingly in a twist of event, the DPO on arrival called the hoodlums/Land Grabbers who came and alleged that Mr. Salami was involved in BUNKERING ACTIVITIES and the DPO said that there is a pending petition before the AIG against Mr. Salami written by Mr. Abdul Rasak Rafiu on BUNKERING ACTIVITIES. The DPO therefore ordered the detention of Mr. Salami despite the argument and position of the lawyer that the hoodlums/land grabbers and the DPO should be sure of their allegation otherwise they would be charged for BLACKMAIL, MALIGN, PUBLIC ASSAULT AND DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER. The DPO later released Mr. Salami the following day, Saturday, September 16, 2023 with an undertaken that he should report on Monday, September 18, 2023 for onward transfer to Zone 2 Command Headquarters.

“The DPO accompanied by the Hoodlums/Land grabbers took Mr. Salami to Zone 2 on Monday, September 18, 2023 and made false presentation to Mr. Olokode of ZCRU section in Zone 2. Mr. Salami whose name was not in the said frivolous and spurious petition was also detained and locked inside the cell after writing his statement to debunk the false allegation aiming to silence him on the malicious damages. Thereafter, on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, Mr. Salami was taken to Tinubu court but on reviewing the case file, the DPP declined the charge and directed that the issue be referred to LAND GRABBERS as it was land matters and not BUNKERING ACTIVITIES. Mr. Salami was later brought back to Zone 2 and granted bail.

“The Adesada Oganjugbe family based on trust and confidence they have in Mr. Salami as an upright person, wrote a letter to AIG dated September 21, 2023 appealing to AIG to unravel the circumstances of BUNKERING ACTIVITIES which Mr. Salami was framed and roped of. Copy of the family letter written to AIG was given to HURMA.

“It is on the basis of the foregoing that HURMA strongly appeal to AIG to cause for serious and indept investigation as to the culpability of Mr. Salami on BUNKERING ACTIVITIES and if it is found that Mr. Abdul Rasak Rafiu, his cohorts and the DPO of Noforija only used the allegation to defame Mr. Salami they should be brought to book for raising false alarm, creating unnecessary tension and given false information to the Police at the detriment of a reputable and diligent man, Mr. Salami which occasioned his illegal and unlawful detention at NOFORIJA and ZONE 2 COMMAND.

Conclusively, the petition request for:

“1. We urgently call for a thorough investigation into the above allegations and ensure justice prevails.

2. Given the demonizing claims against Mr. Idris Adebanjo Salami and other attacks, we demand full protection for his life, properties, rights of movement across the country, and freedom of speech, as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.