BREAKING: MAGISTRATE ON POLICE STATION VISIT FORCED OUT OF POLICE STATION AT IKORODU AT GUNPOINT ON ORDERS OF THE AREA COMMANDER.

Wednesday 27th July 2022. 

The Magistrate on her monthly visit to the police detention facility at Area N Command was forced out of the Police Station by the Area Commander.

Volunteers from the NBA Ikorodu branch in partnership with Duty Solicitors Network in their report recount the incidence:

"...

The magistrate requested the presence of one Emmanuel Olukeji, the IPO said he was with the Area Commander. While we were waiting, the Area Commander (AC) suddenly bounced on us. The AC aggressively confronted the Magistrate and was shouting at her at the top of his voice. The Area Commander harassed the Magistrate at close range.

He said in his word, “Who are you or who do you think you are? You this woman, don’t ever come here again, I have warned you.”

Thank God your Honour did not give any response. The worst was him walking the Magistrate and the PDSS team out of the police premises. He even confiscated the phone of one of the counsels on the belief that he was recording what was happening.

To stop the open embarrassment we were facing, we had to leave the police station premises.

The experience was horrible."

DSN convener, Bayo Akinlade, in making further inquiries was informed that the Area Commander was so violent that the Magistrate feared that he would physically assault her and that policemen with guns came towards them to force them out.

It is clear that the Police are violating provisions of the constitution and the ACJL.

This intimidation of magistrates must stop.

According to Mr. Akinlade, the Administration of Criminal Justice Reform Committee will be informed and expect that the section of the ACJL 2021 of Lagos State punishing any interference with the Magistrates visit will be activated.