Alleged DPO rapist cries in detention, saying it"s caused by satan

By Ehi Ekhator

Mr. Adekunle, the divisional police officer of Onikan police station in lagos cried on Friday in his little cell where he is being confined over the accusation that he raped a detainee.

A 31 years old woman who identified herself as Idowu Akinwumi has accused Mr. adekunle of forcefully having a canal knowledge of her before taking N30,000 from her and other suspects for bail on the 15th of April when she was arrrested.

Idowu was arrested due to the complaint filed to the police by her boss who accused her of allowing someone (a man) to sleep at the restaurant over night.

The police arrested Idowu and five other people.

A source at the police command headquarter in Ikeja confirmed to newsmen (not NAIJA CENTER NEWS) that Mr. Adekunle was crying in his cell saying that his situation was caused by the devil.

The source further disclosed that he overhead the DPO rapist crying that the devil brought those suspects to put him in trouble., and pray that God will assist him in the case in order to protect his job.

Meanwhile some people including the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, the Lagos State Government led by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has shown interest in the case.

An inner source at attached to the Speical Investigation Bureau at the command headquarters, told media (not NAIJA CENTER NEWS) that the case was being investigated and would leave no stone unturned.

He revealed that Human Rights Groups had shown interest in the case too.

The residents of Tolu part of Ajegunle has described the DPO as wicked and corrupt when he was in charge of Tolu police station months ago.

A police officer who decided to talk in anonymity disclosed that the other policemen were not happy with the way he demanded money and inflicted financial hardship on both complainants and suspects at the station.

One of the members of the Police Community Relations Committe, Tolu branch described the DPO as greedy, and added that maybe God has answered the prayer of those crying to God against him.

Alleged DPO rapist cries in detention, saying it"s caused by satan

How DPO raped me in detention—Sales girl

Trouble is brewing at a police division, Lagos Island following claims by a mother of two that she was raped by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, while in detention at the station.

The 31-year‑old Beninoise, identified as Idowu Akinwunmi, works as a sales girl in a restaurant on Keffi Road, in Ikoyi area of the state.

She was reportedly picked by some policemen from Onikan division, following a complaint lodged by her boss, one Mrs Pelumi Idowu, over an undisclosed reason, at about 1 am. She said she was thrown into the cell on reaching the station.

However, at about 10 pm, Akinwunmi said one Inspector Ajiduwe called her out of the cell and took her to the DPO’s office, where she alleged that the station’s boss forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. According t o her, “He, the DPO, made love to me without a condom, saying he would throw me into prison if I mention the incident to anyone.”

Refund of N10,000 bail

Aside that, she also alleged that the Investigating Police Officer, IPO, collected N10,000 from her for bail before she was released. Akinwunmi told members of the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, NOPRIN, that she had been having severe abdominal pain sincere the intercourse.

Although the DPO denied raping the detainee, when NOPRIN inquired from him, he reportedly called the man who stood surety for Akinwunmi to come for a refund of the N10,000 bribe for bail they extorted from her after allegedly raping her.

NOPRIN condemns

The National Coordinator, NOPRIN, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma who condemned the rape, said: “NOPRIN condemns the attempt by some police officers at Area A Command, Lion Building to block the victim from lodging a complaint of the rape with the Area Commander and collecting a police report to go for medical examination.”

At the command level, Vanguard gathered that the state command frowned at the allegation and had commenced investigation to ascertain the DPO’s alleged culpability. If found guilty, the DPO, said to have put in about 25 years in service, would face disciplinary action.

Already, the Command’s boss, Umar Manko, had reportedly summoned the parties involved to the command for interrogation as at 3 pm, yesterday. Spokesperson for the command, Ngozi Braide, however, could not state whether the allegation was true or false but told Vanguard that investigation at the end of the day would prove that, adding: “It is an allegation and we are taking it very serious.”

How I was raped — Akinwunmi Narrating her ordeal, Akinwunmi, told Vanguard: “I was arrested because my madam told the police that I allowed one Friday, a customer pass the night in the restaurant. Two relatives of one of the tailors employed by my madam who came on a visit were also arrested.

“I am from Cotonou in Benin Republic. I am a mother of two and I have been working for Ms Pelumi for about 10 months now. I have done nothing to deserve this kind of treatment. Is it because I am a foreigner that I would be abused without protection? Nigerians should give me justice. I demand justice for this wrong that has been done to me.

“While at the station, I pleaded with one of the police women to allow me take my bath since I have not been allowed to do so since I was arrested and she agreed. “On my way to the bathroom, I met the DPO for the first time. He asked if I was Idowu and I said yes. He then asked why I chose to violate my boss’ rules and I told him it was a mistake.

“At about 10pm, one Inspector Ajiduwe took me out of the cell to the DPO, apparently for debriefing on the case. “Immediately the Inspector left the office, the DPO started touching me. When I asked him to stop, he said my boss said they should do anything they liked to me.

“He threatened to shoot me and send me and those arrested with me to jail, if I refused to allow him make love to me and that he would release all of us if I gave in. “He, thereafter, took me into the inner room in his office. I began to plead with him to use a condom but he refused and forced himself on me .

“When he finished, he told me to wash myself in the bathroom which I did. After that, he sent me back to the cell, with a promise that I would be released.

“But when my relatives came to effect our bail, they paid N30,000 for five of us. As we were going, the DPO scribbled his number on a piece of paper and gave to me. “Immediately I left, my relatives took me to the Island Maternity for the necessary medical tests.”

 

vanguard

How DPO raped me in detention—Sales girl

NOPRIN Petitions PSC Over Rape Of Female Suspect By Police DPO In Onikan, Lagos

NOPRIN, the Network on Police Reform in Nigeria, has petitioned the Chairman of the Police Service Commission over allegations of rape made against the DPO Adekunle Awe of the Onikan Police Station by a detainee, Miss Idowu Akinwunmi.

Miss Adewunmi, 31, made the complaint to NOPRIN on Wednesday, alleging that she was raped by Mr. Awe in his office on Tuesday.

Ms. Akinwunmi, who works at ‘Abua Mamaput & Bar,’ a makeshift restaurant in Ikoyi told NOPRIN officials  she was arrested by police officers attached to Onikan Police Station earlier on Tuesday at about 1a.m. at her work place over a complaint lodged against her by her employer, Mrs. Pelumi Idowu.

“She was detained in the Cell, and at about 10p.m., one Inspector Ajiduwe brought her to the office of the DPO where the DPO raped her.  She said that the DPO forcefully had canal knowledge of her without protection in his office,” NOPRIN said, adding that the DPO threatened to send Ms. Akinwunmi to prison if she mentioned the rape to anyone.

“It is shocking that a high ranking police officer of the position of a DPO could descend to such low level of raping a female suspect in his custody,” the complaint said.

Calling for a prompt, impartial and exhaustive investigation of the allegations to ascertain the truth and bring the DPO to account if found guilty, NOPRIN further told the commission of information available to it that while serving at Zone 2 headquarters and elsewhere, Mr. Awe was also involved in at least four other cases of rape which were covered up for him by his ‘godfathers’ in the police.

“Many victims of rape are often too ashamed and unwilling to report or seek redress,” the letter said.  “They live and die in silence from the trauma of sexual abuse and violence. Thus, perpetrators hide under the silence and enjoy impunity. This is why it is important that the scourge of rape by uniformed men is combated by ensuring full accountability so as to protect women and to reassure victims that they can get redress.”

It urged the commission to use the case involving DPO Awe to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring police discipline, accountability and respect for human rights, pointing out that bringing perpetrators to account will help curb the excesses of rapists in police uniform and end impunity for abuse.

NOPRIN is a network of 46 civil society organisations set up in 2000 to provide civil society input in the promotion of police accountability and respect for human rights.

Full text of the letter:

April 16, 2014

The Chairman

Police Service Commission

Federal Secretariat

Phase 1,

Shehu shagari Way,

Abuja.

Dear sir,

RE: RAPE OF A FEMALE DETAINEE (Miss  IDOWU AKINWUNMI) BY SP ADEKUNLE AWE, DPO, ONIKAN POLICE DIVISION.

Network on Police Reform in Nigeria (NOPRIN) is a network of 46 civil society organisations spread across Nigeria and committed to promoting police accountability and respect for human rights. It was established in 2000 to provide opportunity for civil society input to police reform processes and the enhancement of safety, security and justice.

NOPRIN writes to bring to the attention of the Police Service Commission, the shocking information it received on April 16, 2014  from 31 year-old  Miss  IDOWU AKINWUNMI that SP ADEKUNLE AWE, DPO, ONIKAN POLICE DIVISION raped her in his office on Tuesday, April 15,  2014.

The victim who informed NOPRIN that she works at ‘Abua Mamaput & Bar’ (makeshift restaurant) at 11, Keffi Road, Ikoyi said  she was arrested by police officers attached to ONIKAN POLICE DIVISION on Tuesday, April 15,  2014 around 1a.m. from her work place over a complaint lodged against her at the police station by her employer, one Mrs. PELUMI IDOWU.

She was detained in the Cell, and at about 10p.m., one Inspector Ajiduwe brought her to the office of the DPO where the  DPO raped her. She said that the DPO forcefully had canal knowledge of her without protection in his office.

The DPO later  threatened to send her to prison if she mentioned the rape to anyone.

She said she was released the next day after the IPO- one Inspr. Taiwo- extorted the sum of ten thousand naira from her. Now, she complains of severe stomach pains following the said sexual abuse by the DPO.

Although the DPO denied when NOPRIN inquired from him, he however, later called the man who stood surety for the victim to come and collect the ten thousand naira bribe for bail they extorted from her after raping her.

NOPRIN condemns the attempt by some police officers at Area Command, Lion Building to block the victim from lodging a complaint of the rape with the Area Commander and collecting a police report to go for medical examination.

NOPRIN commends ACP EDGAL IMOHIMID, AREA COMMANDER, LION BUILDING making sure  the victim had access to her after NOPRIN called him and drew his attention to the case and the attempt by some officers in his command to prevent the victim from lodging her complaint.

It is shocking that a high ranking  police officer of the position of a DPO could descend to such low level of raping a female suspect in his custody.

NOPRIN calls for a prompt, impartial and exhaustive investigation with a view to ascertaining the truth and bringing the DPO to account if found guilty.

NOPRIN also wishes to bring to the attention of the commission information it has received that this same DPO, while serving at Zone 2 headquarters and elsewhere, was involved in at least four other cases of rape which were covered up for him by his ‘godfathers’ in the police.

Many victims of rape are often too ashamed and unwilling to report or seek redress. They live and die in silence from the trauma of sexual abuse and violence. Thus, perpetrators hide under the silence and enjoy impunity. This is why it is important that the scourge of rape by uniformed  men is combated by ensuring full accountability so as to protect women and to reassure victims that they can get redress.

We call on the commission to use this case involving DPO SP ADEKUNLE AWE to demonstrate its commitment to ensuring police discipline, accountability and respect for human rights.

Bringing perpetrators  to account will help curb the excesses of rapists in police uniform and end impunity for abuse.

NOPRIN calls for on the commission to ensure appropriate sanctions for DPO SP ADEKUNLE AWE if found guilty of  bringing the Nigeria Police Force  to disrepute through such beastly and unbecoming conduct.

Yours sincerely,

 Okechukwu Nwanguma

National Coordinator

Sahara

NOPRIN Petitions PSC Over Rape Of Female Suspect By Police DPO In Onikan, Lagos