Outraged Nigerians want power-drunk policeman, DPO punished

 

There has been widespread outrage at the action of a policeman, Dada Ogunsanya, who allegedly brutalised a photographer, Ejeh Smith and his wife, Grace, in the Lekki area of Lagos State.

Among those that called for the sanction of the officer was a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana and a constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, who also stated that the Ikoyi Divisional Police Officer, Aisha Haruna, deserved harsher punishment for abetting the brutality.

The human rights lawyer, Falana, described the incident as unfortunate.

In a telephone interview with Punch’s correspondent, he said, “It is the height of infringement on their fundamental human rights to dignity. The policeman involved has to be shamed and prosecuted because he exposed them to mental, psychological and physical torture. The policeman certainly does not deserve to be in uniform.

“The DPO’s action subjected them to further torture. She has no power under the law to collect the phone and remove any information therein. Her case is worse than even the policeman she was trying to shield. She is paid to superintend the policemen under her. For colluding with the police officer, she also deserved the full weight of the law on her.”

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said his chamber was prepared to take up the case for the family without any charge.

Sagay said the police officer was “an out-of-control animal, a brute and a killer.”

“The couple should sue the police for the enforcement of their fundamental rights. They will recover very high damages for the injury they suffered and an apology from the Inspector General of Police.

“The police officer is a danger to the public and should not be in the police force,” he added.