A group, Veteran Organization for Human Rights (VOHRI) has raised alarm over what it described as the unlawful arrest and detention of a 37-year-old trailer driver, Kabir Adebiyi by men of Oyo State Police Command.
VOHRI in a statement on Wednesday, alleged that Adebiyi was unlawfully arrested by police officers attached to CP Monitoring Unit around 10pm on May 3rd 2023.
The statement signed by Ayobami Sakirullah, Lead Activist/Coordinator and Abimbola Adekunle, General Secretary, added that all efforts made to secure the release of the driver by his family since his arrest has been abortive.
The trailer driver was reportedly arrested for describing a location for a fraudster and is being held in the stead of the criminal.
Police authorities insist he will not be released until the principal suspect is apprehended.
The group has now called on the Commissioner of Police in the state to intervene in the matter, adding that the arrest and detention of the trailer driver is a violation of his fundamental human rights.
They also urged the CP to thoroughly investigate the matter.
“We have been briefed by our client’s wife that about 10pm on May 3rd, Mr Kabir Adebiyi was arrested by CP Monitoring Unit without a fair hearing, the following day, his mother went to the CP monitoring unit to find out the offence committed by her son and was told that, her son described a location for a fraudster and they will not be released until the principal suspect is found.
“When Kabir’s wife asked what can be done to locate the principal suspect, they told her they will need to track down the suspect and that will cost her the sum of N250,000. The money was handed over to them immediately, and after three weeks that they could not find the suspect, Kabir’s wife requested his bail. They got infuriated and threatened to detain the woman.
“This has caused serious emotional trauma to our client and her son in police custody. We are thereby calling on you to use your good offices to intervene before the situation gets out of hand and allow justice to be done on this matter in time.
“Consequent upon serious threat to life, unlawful detention, abuse of office/power, intimidation and conspiracy meted on Mr Kabir, which runs contrary to the laws of the land as enshrined in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, section 33,34,35 as amended, we are thereby appealing to you sir, to use your good offices to order a thorough investigation into this case for justice to prevail.
“VOHRI demands nothing but justice in this matter. We rely on your prompt intervention and usual unbiased investigation in this regard”.
