The Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, has ordered an immediate investigation into the alleged Police brutality on popular Nollywood and Tinsel actor, Gideon Okeke and others by policemen and LATMA officials stationed at Maroko/Lekki Lagos, after a viral social media video posted by the actor.
The Lagos statement as released by Commissioner of Police Imohimi condemned the actions of, saying:
“The attention of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Imohimi Edgal has been drawn to a video on the Instablog9ja in which one Gideon Okeke, an actor, was seen alleging that some policemen attached to Maroko Division, brutalised him after a minor road accident involving him and one Mrs Mosunmola Ilori.
Sequel to the allegation, the CP in his usual professional approach to matters of this nature, has directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of the State Criminal Investigation And Intelligence Department, (SCIID), Panti, Yaba to investigate the matter and turn in her report within one week for appropriate action.
The CP assures that nothing will be swept under the carpet and urged all parties in the matter to fully corporate with the investigators.
The CP further assures that findings made during inquisition into the matter will be made public as usual” the statement stated.
The Police response is coming barely 24hours after the actor posted a video on his Instagram page complaining about the brutality. In his post, he tagged the Police IG, Lagos State Governor and other prominent Lagosians.
Gideon Okeke had narrated his experience and that of one other woman he identified as Mrs Ilori and her niece as:
yesterday, after I had finished from a scheduled meeting with Charles Otudor I left the Eko Hotel and joined the gradually building traffic leading on to Lekki’.
Only a few minutes from my meeting, had I unfortunately run into a minor collision with another driver, Mrs Mosunmola Ilori, at the Lekki Phase 1 roundabout. We both inspected the damage(s), conferred and thought first, to get off the road for oncoming traffic.
Just less than 10feet away from all this were the Lastma and Police, sharing the police post at the roundabout.
All I asked, was their assistance (witnessed by Mrs Ilori) in getting some barricades off the road for us to park properly and this scenario I have just described, turned into a full blown fiasco, seeing 4 police officers pounce on me and 2 others on Mrs Ilori and her niece. I have come off this incident with stitches in my mouth and chin. Mrs Ilori as well, to the full glare and amazement of pedestrians and moving traffic, was ruffled up, beat, and dragged on the tarred ground. The Leading man here was one Officer IDEH DONATUS who severally pointed a gun in my chest.
I hereby humbly call on the executive governor of Lagos state, @akinwunmiambode the Vice President @profosinbajo the @policenglagos and its Officers, to kindly exercise the authority of your offices in addressing these civil injustices filed at the #MarokoPoliceStation
Myself, Mrs Ilori, her niece and every other Nigerian citizen, don’t need to feel vulnerable with the police. We appreciate them for their efforts in Protecting Lives and Property,but not for them to be THE THREAT!