A Lagos -based
human rights lawyer , Femi Falana , has backed a motorist , Oluwadamilare
Afolarin , whose car was burnt on the premises of the Lagos State
Vehicle Inspection Service .
Vehicle Inspection Service .
Falana , a
Senior Advocate of Nigeria , described the treatment of the victim by the VIS
director , Gbolahan Toriola , as unfair and unjust, calling for compensation
for Afolarin .
He threatened
that if the government did not buy the victim a new car , including
compensating him for the maltreatment in seven days , he would sue for damages
.
PUNCH Metro
had reported that the 42 - year- old man ’s car was impounded by the Eti- Osa
office of the VIS over a cracked windscreen .
He was fined N
80 ,000 for the offence on the grounds that he also didn ’t have any vehicle
document , although the victim tendered a government -approved car registration
document .
About two
weeks later, while he prepared to pay the fine into the agency ’ s account , he
was reported to have been called by one Akeem , who asked him to proceed to the
Ojodu Berger office of the VIS where he was later told that his car had been
burnt .
Our
correspondent reported that Akeem offered Afolarin N 200,000 and later took him
to the director ’ s office at Alausa .
The director ,
Toriola , after a closed- door meeting with Akeem , allegedly assaulted
Afolarin and accused him of sneaking into the VIS premises to burn the car.
Toriola
allegedly ordered that his shoes and phone be seized , while he should be taken
to the Ogombo Police Division , where he was detained for three days .
The victim was
said to have been released after he was forced to sign an undertaking not to
report the case to the press or post it on the social media .
PUNCH Metro
reported that the state ministry of transportation set up a panel to look into
the case .
The state Acting
Commissioner for Transportation , Anofi Elegushi , had confirmed the
development and promised to update our correspondent as the event unfolded .
However ,
Falana , who had taken over the case pro bono , said the government must buy
Afolarin a new car .
Falana said ,
“ We are writing them to buy him a new car and pay for damages for the
humiliation meted out to him because he was beaten up, slapped and detained
illegally in a police cell . His vehicle was alleged to have been burnt in
their custody; either they set fire to the vehicle or it got burnt accidentally
, they are liable .
“ How can they
say that he burnt the vehicle on their premises ; a premises guarded by
policemen ? They cannot maintain that because it is illogical and that
explanation is not acceptable . We are giving them one week and if they fail to
accede to his demand , we are going to court . We will sue for damages to the
tune of N 100m. ”
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