In the letter copied to the President Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero and President Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, the petitioners accused the IPO and DCO of colluding with a landlady, one Halimat Abdulazeez, to arrest and detain their members unlawfully.
The Solidarity Network for Workers' Right (SNWR), has called for the immediate and unconditional release of three of its members illegally detained at the Jikwoyi Police Station in Abuja over a civic matter.
The Workers' Right group which gave the names of the detained members as - Comrades Daniel Akande, Abdullahi Bilal, and Mohammed Abdullai, in an open letter to the Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, condemned the unjust actions of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Dogo Labari and the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Steven Yohanna, at the Jikwoyi Police Station in Abuja, as unprofessional and illegal.
Titled: "Petition Against Unlawful Arrest and Detention of Comrades Daniel Akande, Abdullahi Bilal, and Mohammed Abdullai," the letter was jointly signed by Segun Ogun and Lateef Adamu, Coordinator and Secretary, Solidarity Network for Workers’ Rights respectively.
In the letter copied to the President Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero and President Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, the petitioners accused the IPO and DCO of colluding with a landlady, one Halimat Abdulazeez, to arrest and detain their members unlawfully.
Giving details of the incident, the group explained that a competent court on May 26, 2024, ruled in favour of Mr. Daniel Akande in a tenancy dispute initiated by the landlady, Halimat Abdulazeez, a subject matter on which the comrades were still being detained in police custody.
"Following this favourable ruling, the landlady resorted to self-help, attacking Mr. Daniel and his friends with thugs in the property. Mr Daniel and his lawyer reported the landlady's hostile actions, including her use of thugs for intimidation, to the Jikwoyi Police Station.
"Unfortunately, instead of addressing these complaints, the same police station was used by the landlady to arrest Ruth Isiaku on Friday June 14, 2024, while she was alone at their residence. When Abdullai Bilal, Daniel Akande, and Mohammed Abdullai attempted to intervene and seek Ruth's release, they were also arrested by the same police officers to whom they had reported the landlady.
"The arrest was based on the baseless claim that they had assaulted a police officer, a claim that is both frivolous and false," they explained.
However, the group noted that despite multiple efforts to secure their release, the IPO in charge of the case, Dogo Labari, who promised to release them upon the provision of a surety, has not honoured his word. In the same manner, the DCO Steven Yohanna has also failed to respond to calls and messages regarding the matter.
"Although Ruth Isiaku was released on Saturday June 15, 2024 to their lawyer, the police have refused to release the others as at today Monday June 17, 2024, citing unfounded allegations of assault. It is worth noting that beyond the tenancy dispute and the landlady's baseless claims of being threatened, a female police officer who tried to seize a phone from one of the detainees under the suspicion that they might be recording the conversation between the landlady and the Police office, surprisingly alleged that she was assaulted by the three men in the police station.
"We, the members of the Solidarity Network for Workers' Rights (SNWR), strongly condemn the actions of the Nigeria Police in this matter. It is unacceptable for the police to be used as instruments to settle civil disputes, especially when a competent court of law has already ruled on the matter.
"The arrest and continued detention of Comrades Daniel Akande, Abdullahi Bilal, and Mohammed Abdullai is unwarranted, a misuse of police authority, and a clear case of victimization and intimidation by the landlady and the police.
"We demand a thorough investigation into the relationship between the landlady, Halimat Abdulazeez, and the officers at the Jikwoyi Police Station. It is crucial to uncover any plans they may have had to unjustly keep our comrades detained during this long holiday period.
"We also call for the immediate and unconditional release of Comrades Daniel Akande, Abdullahi Bilal, and Mohammed Abdullai. This incident underscores the urgent need for police reform to prevent the misuse of authority and to protect citizens' rights against the abuse of power by individuals in positions of authority. We trust that you will take immediate action to rectify this grave injustice."
The letter was also copied to Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, Gad Peter; Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma; Alliance for Survival of Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) Femi Falana (SAN); and Founder/Executive Director, Rule of Law and Empowerment/Partners West Africa Nigeria, Kemi Okenyodo.