A
27-year-old trader, Mrs. Victoria Amodu, yesterday told an Ikeja High Court,
Lagos that an Investigative Police Officer (IPO) at the Special Anti-Robbery
Squad (SARS),
Ikeja Division, demanded sex from her to release her from
custody.
Amodu, a
mother of four, gave the testimony as a defence witness in her trial for
alleged conspiracy and armed robbery, before Justice Kudirat Jose.
The
defendant, who denied the allegation, was arraigned alongside one Hammed Isiaka
on a six-count charge of conspiracy to commit robbery and armed robbery,
contrary to Section 295(2)(a) of the Criminal Law No 11 Laws of Lagos State,
2011.
One of the
charges reads, “Hammed Isiaka, Victoria Amodu and others now at large, on or
about August 12, 2014 while armed with a pistol did rob one Elizabeth Moses of
a cash sum of N35, 000 and a cheque of N1.4m.”
However,
while being led in evidence by her counsel, Nelson Onyejaka, Amodu told Justice
Jose that she was unjustly arrested by the police on August 12, 2014 at Church
Bus stop, Badagry, Lagos. She said she was selling bread at the bus stop when
policemen raided the area, arrested her and others and bundled them into their
truck, where they met some men who were already tied up.
Narrating
the incident, Amodu said: “I was arrested by the police while I was selling
bread and taken to the station at SARS, Ikeja. An IPO (name not mentioned)
there told me to call someone that would come for my bail. I called a
neighbour, a lady that helps me look after my kids. When she arrived, the IPO
said a woman could not sign my bail bond, which he put at N400,000.
I became
worried because I didn’t know any man to call since I was no longer living with
my husband and I was also new in Lagos. I decided to call my father but he
refused coming to the station. He said since I was married he had no hand in
anything concerning me.
“I didn’t
know what else to do at this time, so I started begging the IPO to let me go
and take care of my kids since I didn’t commit any offence. The IPO took me
outside the cell to a corner and said that I am a pretty lady and that if I
submit myself to him, I would be freed. I got angry and shouted at him, asking
why he would make such a statement to me. He immediately, dragged me back to
the cell. Some others who were arrested that day were released after they paid
money, though I don’t know how much they paid.
“Nights
after, the IPO brought out some case files and told me and others in the cell
to sign them. He said that when we were done signing, we would be released. I
agreed to sign the documents on the condition that he would not touch me. But
the other men refused saying they couldn’t sign what they didn’t know.
“The IPO
immediately brought out his gun and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t
sign and they fearfully signed it. “After signing the documents, we were all
taken to a Magistrates Court and from there, to Kirikiri Prison.”
Amodu
pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy and permit her to go home
to cater for her children.
During
cross-examination by prosecution counsel, Mrs. Awosika, Amodu denied knowing
the first defendant, Isiaka. She said she had never seen him before and only
met him for the first time in court on the day of arraignment.
Isiaka, a
driver, who also testified while being led by his counsel, Mrs. Olamide
Amore-Akintoye, said he was arrested on his way from Seme border while carrying
food items belonging to a customer. He said his car was impounded and taken to
the station where he was locked up after he failed to pay for his release.
José
adjourned till November 29 for adoption of final addresses.
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