HURMA Wants Police To Investigate Alleged Illegal Eviction of Its Officer

Some of the victim’s belonging on the corridor 

HURMA Wants Police To Investigate Alleged Illegal Eviction of Its Officer

By Edit Okofu
Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA), a human rights group, has called on the Police hierarchy in Lagos State, to urgently investigate alleged illegal and forceful ejection of a Sergeant policewoman from the Highway Patrol Barracks, Ikeja Lagos.

HURMA’s Executive Director, Comrade Olaitan Buna, made the call after he led his team to ascertain the veracity of the alleged illegal ejection was carried out by another policewoman, who allegedly have the backing of a Senior Police officer in the barracks.

Comrade Buna said his office was notified of the alleged harassment, intimidation an unlawful ejection of the police officer, by her mother, who retired as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in 2019 

Speaking on the development, Comrade Buna said: “the office of the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) was petitioned on Monday 20th of January by the mother of the a victim of unlawful ejection from her apartment at Barrack ‘C’ Room 20 Highway Patrol Barrack Ikeja. 

“The victim’s mother was a police officer, who retired as a DSP in 2019. According to the petition, her daughter, a woman sergeant member of the Nigeria Police Force and presently attached to Lagos State Government House Ikeja, is now rendered homeless with nowhere to sleep.

“Her apartment was broken into on January 3, 2020, while she was away on official assignment. All her belongings in the apartment at Block C Barracks was parked out and moved to the kitchen while others left in the open corridor, some items got damaged in the process while some still missing. 

“All these was done without any prior notification nor warning signal whatsoever to the occupant which is against normal quit procedure even within the Civil Service Rule, which the Police operate.

“All necessary offices were approached but they claimed that they were helpless according to the report which necessitated approaching the HURMA Office”.

To verify the said petition and ascertained the petitioner’s allegations, before making any move at ensuring justice is done, Comrade Buna said his team visited the Barracks on April 22, where the victim’s belongings were seen outside the flat.

HURMA’s Executive Director however stated that the affected Officer informed his team that the police authority is presently working on the matter and she has confidence that justice would be done.
Comrade Buna however stated that after the petition and nothing is done, HURMA will use all legal means at disposal to ensure the victim is adequately compensated.

editor

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