Ejigbo DPO explains reason for releasing suspect

By Motolani AbdulGafar

The DPO of Ejigbo Divisional Police Station, Akinsola Ogunwale, has explained why a theft suspect, Wasiu Jimoh, was released on bail after being detained in the station for more than 24 hours.

The suspect, who was allegedly caught stealing a big Fireman generator and small Homa generator belonging to a church and another resident at Taiwo Fayemi Street, Ejigbo, was handed over to the police by the residents.

However, the suspect was released by the police on bail to be summoned later for the prosecution at the court of law.

Meanwhile, the residents have frowned on the act by the police as they were expecting the suspect to be detained for as long as the police could interrogate him to reveal the identity of his accomplices.

They claimed that other valuable items such as Toyota Camry with number plate LND BR 452, two plasma televisions, 40 big turkeys and other items have been stolen in the community and reported at the station without any headway.

The Taiwo Fayemi Street security committee chairman, Mr Kamar Afolabi, while speaking to ECHONEWS, said the residents were disappointed to see that the suspect has been released by the police.

He explained that the suspect was caught in the act and they decided to take him to the police to avoid jungle justice, expecting that the police would do a thorough investigation to bring the suspect to book.

His words: “We sometimes get information from reliable sources about the suspect and others but we can’t just accuse them without firm proof and that is why we insist that he should be detained to get more information from him. And if at all it is against the law to detain him, we expect that appropriate procedure is followed before his release as we didn’t even know when he was released; we just saw him in the community some days after he was taken to the station.

“We have from time to time informed the CDC chairman and he has been following up this matter. The pressing thing we want from the police is to help us interrogate him to get his accomplice and make them all sign and undertaken to take responsibility for any other missing items in the community. By this, we believe they would stop their illicit activities.”

Responding, the DPO said the police have been working hard to curtail crimes in the local council area.

He explained that the police could not detain a suspect for more than 24 hours and that the suspect could not be charged to court as judicial workers are still on strike.

According to him, the alleged offence of the suspect is bailable after 24 hours of being held in police custody before temporary release was granted by law.

“No one is disputing that it is a stealing case. If it was a murder or rape case we would have transferred it but with this type of case at hand, we have to hand the accused to reliable sureties who must produce him at any time we intend to probe further. We have informed the assumed owners of the stolen generators to bring substantial clearance to claim their properties.

“We will probe further and take the case to court according to the law once the court resumes fully,” he said.