Joy Anyim
The Lagos State Police Command has denied reports alleging that its operatives at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, tortured and killed one Omolola Ejioye, a murder suspect in custody.
Reports making the rounds had it that detectives at the homicide section had during interrogation tortured the deceased, amongst other inhumane treatment.
In a statement detailing how the suspect died, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi said the suspect, who was transferred from the Ikorodu Police Division, exhibited behaviour, suggesting an underlying health challenge.
He said he was rushed to Falomo Police Hospital, Ikoyi, where he died.
“The command had deemed it necessary to refute and clear the air on the alleged torture and killing of one Omolola Rotimi Ejioye, alias Eji, by the operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba on Sunday, May 9, 2021, contrary to the news making waves on the social media,” Adejobi said.
“The Command wishes to state in clear terms that a case of suspected murder was transferred from Ikorodu Division of Lagos State to the SCID on May 4, 2021 for discreet investigation. One Rotimi Omolola, the deceased, was equally brought along with the case file and other suspects.
“On May 7, 2021, at about 4am, the attention of the officers on duty at the State CID, Panti, was drawn to strange behaviour of the suspect, Omolola, suggesting an underlying illness and he was quickly rushed to Falomo Police Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos where he gave up the ghost while on admission.
“The corpse has been deposited at mortuary for the performance of autopsy to ascertain the probable cause of death.”
The PPRO urged the general public to disregard the said report saying, “it is fake, unfounded and mischievous news, which has been in circulation by certain individuals to distort the fact and escalate misinformation on the incident, for reasons best known to them.”
He stated that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Hakeem Odumosu, while commiserating with the family of the deceased suspect, reiterated that the suspect was neither tortured nor maltreated by the police at any point, despite his alleged involvement in the murder case under investigation.
“The Commissioner of Police also reaffirms and assures the general public that the Police Command, under his watch, will continually discharge its duties in line with the provisions of the law and kick against violation of human rights as well as abuse and misuse of power in the state,” he added.
