GROUP SEEKS IGP EGBETOKUN's INTERVENTION AS IMEKO AFON DPO INSISTS ON MEDDLING IN A CIVIL MATTER

GROUP SEEKS IGP EGBETOKUN's INTERVENTION AS IMEKO AFON DPO INSISTS ON MEDDLING IN A CIVIL MATTER.

The general public could recall that the able leadership of The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos; headed by Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Adegoke M. Fayoade mni,psc; recently held a supposedly refresher training for senior police officers where emphasis was laid on decorum and professionalism. The highlight of the training was on how the officers were reminded that the police has little or no business interfering in matters that are predominantly civil in nature. 

It is however worrisome to report that some of the senior officers eventually chose to waste taxpayers money which was used to foot the training expenses because even while the training was ongoing, some of the officers were still flouting the AIG's instructions. 

This claim is evident in the attached petition as shown to the press by a human rights organisation viz THE ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE. The petition whose prayers were primarily addressed to The Inspector General of police and copied various relevant bodies explained how the Divisional Police officer (DPO) of Imeko Afon had been threatening one Mr. Lukumon Elegbede who admitted to being involved in a failed transaction with one Mr. Razak popularly known as Arolat. The petitioner reads that the men of the Nigerian police force have been threatening Mr. Elegbede for the balance payment after he had refunded about 95% of the amount involved. 

In his words the National Secretary of the human rights organisation, Comrade Michael Olasina opined that since the Police Act, Administration of Criminal Justice act and many court pronouncements disapprove of police involvement in Debt matters either by direct borrowing or failed business transactions, the organisation is disappointed that some officers would still make themselves instruments of oppression in the hands some sherlocks, thus making the weak extremely vulnerable. 

He further called on, all stakeholders in legal matters to call the erring police officers to order.

THE PETITION 

*THE ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.*

Friday July 18, 2025.

*The Chairman,*

*Nigeria Police Service Commission(NPSC),*

*8th Floor, Federal Secretariat,*

*Phase(1), Shehu Shagari Way,*

*Federal Capital Territory (FCT),*

*Abuja-Nigeria.*

 _*Through;*_ 

*The Honourable Minister/Attorney General of the Federation,*

*Federal Ministry Of Justice, Justice Headquarter's, Plot* *71b, P.M.B.192-Maitama Area,* *Sehu Shagari Way, Central Business District,*

*Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Abuja-Nigeria.*

 _*Attention:*_ 

*The Inspector General of* *Police (IGP),*

*Nigeria Police Force (NPF),*

*Force Headquarters’,*

*Louis Edet House,*

*Sheu Shagari Way,*

*Central Area,* *Area(11)-Garki,* 

*Federal Capital* *Territory(FCT),*

*Abuja-Nigeria.*

*Further-Info;*

*The Assistant Inspector General Of Police(AIG),*

*Nigeria Police Force (NPF),* 

*Police Zonal Headquarters,*

*Zone II, Onikan- Lagos State, Nigeria.*

*Further note:*

*The Commissioner of Police(CP)*

*The Nigeria Police Force. Ogun State command*. 

 *

 *THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE;* 

*Sir,* 

 *PETITION AGAINST THE DIVISIONAL POLICE OFFICER (D.P.O:+2348027985983,+2348087974848) AND INVESTIGSTING POLICE OFFICER(I.P.O:+2349028803633) NIGERIA POLICE FORCE, IMEKO-AFON; YEWA, OGUN STATE.* 

Our Organization's major objective is to protect the citizens of this country against any form of human rights abuse, and to complement the Constitutional duties and responsibilities of every law maintaining agency of the Government ditto discouraging corrupt practices and it's perpetrators. 

A thorough understanding of the legal power accruable to your organisation as enshrined in *section 214 of the CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (1999) as Amended*, is the essence of this petition. 

Our client Mr. LUKUMON ELEGBEDE (Phone:09013442569,07071438631) is a bonafide citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria resident in ilara, Yewa, Ogun State.

Our client stated that he was involved a mutually beneficial business transaction with one Mr Razak aka Arolat (+2348022504200, +2348102900555) who also is a Nigerian, resident of Ayetoro Ogun state.

Our client declared that the nature of the business was supply of petroleum products by trucking.

Our client further confessed that though he was the front man for the transaction, Mr. Razak (Arolat) was the sponsor and provider of the petroleum products. 

Our client said the dynamics of the transaction is that the retailing customers take the products from them on a buy now, pay later basis, which Mr. Razak himself is very privy to.

Our client said the problem arose when on one of the occasions, the customer collected the product, (PMS precisely) valued at N28,000,000(Twenty eight millions naira only) but they didn't remit money as scheduled. He said Mr. Razak being the supplier, at that point chose to exonerate himself of any liability. 

Our client said he took it in good faith and did everything to raise money but he could only raise N26,000,000(Twenty six million naira only). The said amount was paid with sweat because our client sold everything valuable to him just so he could maintain a good relationship with Mr. Razak.

Our client reports that the balance of N2,000,000 (Two million naira only) has landed him in the net of Imeko-Afon police station about four times. In his words, they would say it's just an invitation but in the end it will be detention. The infuriating part is that the complainant only instructs the DPO on phone, he doesn't even appear in person. 

Baring the aforesaid, it is very appalling and disheartening to note that some officers of the Nigerian Police are allowing themselves to be used as instruments of harassment and intimidation, especially when it involves hapless citizens. 

*Our prayers:*

1. In the light of Section 32(2) of the Police Act 2020 and Section 8(2) of The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and various court pronouncements, the officer should be reminded that even where a case of indebtedness could be proven, it is purely civil in perspective. 

2. The officers should be reprimanded for taking sides in a matter of a failed business transaction, especially among people who had had previously successful transactions. if the complainant feels aggrieved, he should do so in court; afterall, He who must come to equity, must come with clean hands. 

3. The officers should be instructed to advise the complainant Mr. Razak(Arolat) to proceed to a court of competent jurisdiction and file a suit against our client in the interest of Fair hearing and Justice.

 

4. The officers should be made to understand that adjudication in civil matters is primarily the responsibility of the court, The complainant and the defendant should have their days in court without the meddlesomeness of the Nigerian police. 

5. The officers should be made to know that since the Statutory duty of the Police is to maintain law and order, also to protect lives and properties of the citizenry, it will be an aberration for same people (the policemen) to make themselves instruments of oppression in the hands of sherlocks and tyrants at the expense of less privileged citizens security and peace.

6. That the officers should steer clear of the matter since it is civil in nature and the fundamental human rights of our client should be respected. So, the threat and harassment from The DPO and IPO should stop forthwith. 

7. The officers should advise the complainant to desist from threatening our client and his cronies should stop the incessant way laying and ambush moves against our client as the support of the police against our client is causing him severe psychological trauma and a deteriorating health condition. 

it's in pursuance of the aims and objectives earlier stated that made us file this Petition to your reputable and respected offices to intervene in this matter, as we absolutely rely on you and believe that your offices intervention is imperative and inevitable at this material time for the peace, sanity and stable mental health of our client who is a fellow citizen of the federal republic of Nigeria.

In View of this, we count on the powerful capabilities of your good offices to expedite the necessary actions within the ambit of the law and give our client the necessary reprieve as soon as possible. . 

 

Yours faithfully,

For: *THE ADVOCATES FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE (TAFSJ).*

*Comrade Michael Agassi*

*For: The Executive Chairman TAFSJ".*

*Cc:*

*Area Commander, Police Area Command, Imeko, Ogun State, Nigeria.*

*Executive Chairman, EFCC, FCT, Abuja-Nigeria.*

*Zonal Director(ZD), EFCC Lagos Office, AWOLOWO Way, Ikoyi-Lagos.*

*Director General(DG),Office Of the Public Prosecution(DPP), Federal Ministry Of Justice, FCT, Abuja-Nigeria.*

*Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chairman, Legal Practitioner's Investigating Panel(LPIP), FCT, Abuja*

*Chairman, Police Affairs Commission(PAC), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chairman, Legal Practitioner's Disciplinary Committee(Body Of Benchers), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Deputy Inspector General of Police(DIG), Investigation & Operations, FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chairman, Legal Practitioner's Disciplinary Tribunal(LPDT), FCT, Abuja, Nigeria.*

*Chairman, Legal Practitioner's Regulatory Committee(LPRC), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chief Justice(CJN), of the Federation, FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chairman, Legal Practitioner's Privileges Committee (LPPC), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Secretary General, National Judicial Council(NJC), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chairman, Legal Practitioner's Practice Council(LPPC), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Director, Council of Legal Education(CLE), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association(NBA), Ogun State Chapter, Ogun state.*

*Nigeria*

*Deputy Chairman, National Judicial Council (NJC), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria.*

*President, Court of Appeal, (FCT), Abuja-Nigeria*

*Director General(DG), Department of the State Security Services(DSSS), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chairman, Senates Committee on Public Petition, Previleges and Ethics,(FCT), Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chairman, Rep's Committee on Public Petition, Previleges and Ethics, FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Senate President, National Assembly Complex, (FCT), Abuja-Nigeria*

*Speaker, House of Representatives, National Assembly Complex, (FCT), Abuja-Nigeria*

*National Secretary General, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Office of The Executive Governor, Ogun State, Nigeria*

*Director, Amnesty International(AI), Nigeria Office, FCT, Abuja-Nigeria.*

*Director, Human Rights Watch(HRW), Nigeria Office, FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Hon. Commissioner for Justice/Attorney General of Ogun State, Nigeria*

*Director, Transparency International(TI), Nigeria Office, FCT, Abuja-Nigeria*

*Chief Judge(CJ), Ogun State High Court Complex, Ogun State-Nigeria.*

*State Director, Department of the State Security Services(DSSS), Lagos State-Nigeria.*

*Comrade James Olasina Michael; General Secretary- TAFSJ* *09018677671*

*TAFSJ Lawyers/ Legal Advisers*

*All Media Houses in Nigeria and Diaspora*

*NB:* *For Your NOTIFICATION and Necessary ACTION on this Subject Matter.*

*Dated this Friday 18th Day Of July, 2025.*