The Nigerian police last Friday arraigned Olamide Abiodun Thomas, a human rights activist, on a three-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The charge centres on allegations that Olamide Thomas insulted President Bola Tinubu’s son, Seyi and top police officials, including Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun and Police Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, in a viral social media post.

Prior to the arraignment, Thomas had been in detention for about six days allegedly without access to his lawyer or family. An attempt to take her statement took a dramatic turn when the lawyer that accompanied her for the session told CITY LAWYER that he was “badly assaulted” by police operatives in the process.

Below is the full text of the statement by the lawyer, Mr. Ernest Chukwuemeka Okpaga.

On the 19th day of December 2024, I accompanied Thomas Abiodun to make her statement the NPF NCCC, having been in custody at FCID for 6 days without her making a statement and (having been) denied access to her lawyer and family member on the allegation of insulting the Force PPRO. And no police agreed knowing the IPO in-charge of case.

Thomas Abiodun previously have been complaining of a medical condition, that she is bleeding, that she is asthmatic and an Ulcer patient, but the police has refused to attend to her medically; they kept denying me and Thomas Abiodun’s relatives access to her.

After Thomas Abiodun finished making her statement today in my presence, I left.

On getting to the entrance of the police building, some officers shouted my name, that I should come back. I came back and enquired what the issue was. I was told that Thomas Abiodun collapsed shortly after making her statement.

I informed the police that they should take her to hospital for emergency medical attention and that previously while she was in custody, she had complained that she was sick but no medical care was given to her.

The Assistant Director Admin at NPF NCCC now ordered police officers to lock me up together with Thomas Abiodun at the interrogation room until Thomas Abiodun regains consciousness before I may be allowed to go. I attempted resisting them from dragging me to lock me up as ordered by the Assistant Director Admin in NCCC and I was assaulted and beaten by the police officers.

After my persistent resistance from being locked up, the Assistant Director Admin now ordered that they should hurriedly take Thomas Abiodun along with myself to the Police hospital. We were then brought to the police hospital at Area 11, Garki, Abuja, where Thomas Abiodun is currently admitted and receiving medical treatment.

I was badly assaulted.

To join our CITY LAWYER Channel on WhatsApp, click here

To join our Telegram platform, click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on “X” (TWITTER) at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER or for Special Features, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083.

All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.