Detainee says police demanded N80k from her for bail

isaac dachen

December 9, 2015 3:01 PM

A woman who reported a case of death to the police was told to pay N80k for bail or she would be charged to court for murder.

Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase

The order by the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase that the police in Nigeria must not collect money as bail from any suspect, seems to be flouted every day as a woman who thought she was doing a good thing by reporting the death of her neighbour to the police, is now regretting that singular action because she was arrested and detained, and told that she had to bail herself with the sum of N80,000 or she would be charged to court for murder.

The incident has raised concerns in the Tapa Community in Ebute-Meta, Lagos State, as the residents have called on state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to wade into the matter and effect the release of the 32-year-old woman identified as Gbemisola who is being detained at the Denton Police Station for an offence she did not commit.

The mother of two, according to reports, had reported the death of her neighbour identified as Timothy who died in a fire incident in his apartment but the police arrested her instead.

Another neighbour who expressed surprise at the arrest of Gbemisola said:

“We were sleeping when the deceased’s neighbour raised alarm about the fire incident; we all rushed to the building and put out the fire. Few days later, there was serious odour enveloping the community.

So, some concerned youths went into the deceased’s apartment only to find his bloated body on the floor and that was what prompted the neighbour to report the matter at the station.

When we heard about the woman’s arrest and detention, we went to the station in an attempt to persuade the Investigation Officer to release her only for us to be told that we should pay N80,000 or she would be charged to court for murder and arson.

We are appealing to Governor Ambode to come to the aid of the woman because she is suffering over what she knew nothing about.”

Is the police really our friend?

isaac dachen