19th January, 2018
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Peace Corps of Nigeria has warned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi and other police officers to desist from harassing its officers across the state.
Southwest Zonal Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Mutairu Habib issued the warning on Friday at a news conference in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, on court’s judgement which rule against the police on the harassment of its men.
Thirty-four Peace Corps officials illegally arrested by the police and arraigned at a Magistrate Court in Oshodi were acquitted by the Magistrate for want of diligent prosecution on Thursday.
Habib said the body Peace Corps was hit with utmost shock and trepidation when on Friday, 22 September, 2017, 34 of its officers who were on their way to attend a function to commemorate the World Peace Day 2017 which was celebrated worldwide the previous day were arrested and detained by men of the Nigerian Police.
He stated that the 34 officers were summarily arraigned the following day at the Lagos State Magistrate court, Oshodi, on three count charges, the charges of impersonation, conspiracy and breach of peace.
“The matter came up before the magistrate court at four different sittings, at each sitting, the police always failed to appear or bring up witnesses to buttress the three count charges against our officers. The matter came up again on Thursday 18 January, 2018 for trial for the fourth time, all the defendants being present in court as usual.
“Counsel for the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the defence counsel were both present in court. After announcement of appearance from both parties, the counsel from the office of the AG of Lagos State who is the prosecution lawyer wherein the police were the complainant informed the honorable court that they had made frantic efforts after the last sitting which was on 6th December, 2017 to reach the complainant (Nigerian Police Force, Lagos State Command) to inform them about the latest date (being Thursday 18th January) for trial based on the fact that they were not in court at the last sitting.
“They also informed the court that from the look of things, the police who are the complainant, and by virtue of their absence in court today, appeared to have abandoned the case and therefore pled for a further date to enable them present witnesses for the trial,” he explained.
Habib said the defense counsel objected to the request/application for a further date, referring the court to court records at the last date being December 6th, 2017, wherein the counsel for the defendant made an application to the court for the matter to be struck out off the course list (court list) based on want of diligent prosecution under Section 42 Sub-Section 4 and 5 of the Lagos State Magistrate Court law 2009.
He explained that after the application by the defense counsel, the court struck out the charges against the defendants and discharged all the 34 defendants based on the application of the defendant counsel for want of diligent prosecution.
“Pursuant to the forgoing, we hereby call on the Commissioner of Police and the Nigerian Police Force to respect the court order and desist from the unnecessary harassment and intimidation of our members.”