The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has issued an immediate directive for the removal of the Gowon Estate Divisional Police Officer (DPO) who detained a lawyer seeking bail for a client.
CP Fayoade has also instructed the Officer-In-Charge of Legal to take proactive measures to engage the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in preventing a recurrence of such incidents.
SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the Command, conveyed this information in a statement released on Tuesday evening.
According to Hundeyin, under CP Fayoade’s leadership, the Command is committed to upholding the rule of law and will not hesitate to penalize any officer involved in unprofessional, unethical, or discreditable conduct.
The statement reads, “Following the conclusion of investigations into the allegations made against the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Gowon Estate Division, as published in Punch Newspaper of January 4, 2024, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Adegoke Fayoade, mni has ordered the immediate removal of the DPO pending a review of his case by other supervisory authorities. The CP had earlier ordered a thorough investigation into the matter upon receipt of the publication.
“CP Fayoade has equally directed the OC Legal of the Command to initiate steps to reach out to the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos State Branch to enable a round table discussion towards preventing a recurrence of the avoidable incident and enhancing better police-lawyers relationship.
“The Lagos State Police Command, under the stewardship of CP Fayoade, will continue to uphold the rule of law, while not hesitating to sanction any officer found engaging in unprofessional, unethical, and discreditable conduct.”