Police illegally detain Lagos pastor, collect N20,000 for bail

A pastor based in Warewa, Ogun State, Adekunle Kristisanwo, who was detained by policemen from the Isheri Police Station, Lagos State, has demanded justice.

Kristisanwo, who also operates a commercial motorcycle, called for the arrest and prosecution of one Inspector Patrick Stephen and one Inspector Mercy, who allegedly collected N20, 000 for bail from him.

PUNCH Metro had reported that the cleric was on his motorcycle at New Garage, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Monday, December 5, 2022, when Inspector Stephen arrested him for violating the ban on Okada operation in Lagos State.

The 50-year-old said he was thereafter detained and forced to sleep in a cell till the following day when he was released after paying N20, 000 for bail to Inspector Mercy, who was the Investigating Police Officer.

While insisting that the cops operated out of their jurisdiction, Kristisanwo lamented that the police refused to release the motorcycle to him.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, had promised to investigate the matter and urged the victim to provide the identities of the officers.

The pastor asked the police spokesman to fulfil his promise.

He said, “I am calling on the Lagos State Police Command to investigate the officers, whose names I have provided as requested by the PPRO. What I want now is justice for illegal detention for committing no offence and for the policemen to provide the motorcycle, which is my only means of livelihood. I have a family and this is what I use to take care of them.”

Kristisanwo also accused the Isheri Divisional Police Officer, CSP Amuda Abolaji, of refusing to investigate his complaint.

“The first time I visited the station with my lawyer, we met the DPO. He refused to give us an audience despite trying to explain the situation of things to him. We visited the place over and over again to let him realise that his men were doing illegal job at the border community, but he began to avoid us until the day we were told that the bike had been moved to the task force office,” he added.

When our correspondent contacted the DPO to respond to the allegation, he said, “Are you making any sense with what you’re telling me? You have published the story. What is it that you’re now telling me?”

Recall that residents and business owners in the community had lamented alleged unprofessional conduct of officers from the division.

On July 5, 2022, PUNCH Metro reported how a group of policemen from the division were caught in an extortion scheme involving the use of the traffic light in the community.

On July 19, 2022, our correspondent also reported that transport union workers lamented being extorted by policemen from the division.

They accused the officers of constantly forcing them to remit money to avoid being arrested.

The police spokesman, Hundeyin, could not be reached for further comment on the pastor’s case. (The PUNCH)