A Police officer attached to the Lagos Rapid Respond Squad (RRS), has been caught on video assaulting a Lagos-based lawyer, Habeeb Sulola.
Mr. Sulola, a young lawyer, also accused the RRS official of vandalising his car, using his gun.
The incident involving the officer attached to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the legal practitioner reportedly occurred along the Lagos-Ikorodu Road at Mile-12 area of the state.
Recounting his ordeal to NPO Reports correspondent on Friday, Sulola disclosed how the officer had stopped him while attempting to ascend the Mile 12 bridge on his way to court.
According to him, the officer ordered him to divert his route and pass under the bridge without giving him any reason for the diversion.
Sulola said all attempts to ask for the order for him to change his route fell on deaf ears of the officer who was said to be wielding his gun menacingly.
This had led to the initial altercation before the officer came close to him and used his gun to hit his car after descending the bridge.
“Yesterday, I was on my way to court at Ogba. There is usually traffic around Mile 12 down to Ketu. I was about to ascend the Mile 12 bridge when the officer came out of nowhere, stood in front of my car and told me that I should pass under the bridge.
“I was surprised that why under the bridge? That is not my route. I’m ascending and descending at the other side of the bridge. So, I asked him why? He did not give any response.
“He just stood in front of my car, telling me to pass under the bridge. Not until people’s car parked at my back started shouting, then he left.
“There was a BRT in front of me that broke down. So, I manoeuvre my way around the BRT then on getting to the other side of the BRT that broke down, he came back again and he was like oh, he said in Yoruba that he is going to show me pepper.
“So, I responded back in Yoruba that okay now no wahala. Then he used the butt of his gun to hit my car while I was driving off and I parked. On parking, he came again and used his gun to puncture my tyre and I had a flat tire right there on the bridge.” Sulola said.
While dismissing initial claim of being shot at by the officer, the lawyer disclosed that a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was present at the scene but failed to intervene even at the point where the officer assaulted him.
“I did not hear any gun shot but when I got to the mechanic shop, he said that the valve was forcefully removed. And there was LASTMA officer right there who witnessed the whole incident and she did not intervene in it.
“He did not give any reason. I told him I was on my way to court. He told me to pass another route and I asked why? He could not give any reason. Then all he was saying was he was a Police officer before I ever thought of becoming a lawyer. That’s what he kept saying.
“While I was making a video, he snatched my phone from me. He made several attempts to hit me.
“Immediately, their patrol car passed at my car.” He said.
Sulola further recounted how a commercial driver told him that the officer is renown for harassing drivers.
The lawyer also disclosed that he will petition the Lagos State Police Command over the incident.
“Also while all these were happening, there was this NURTW guy that came and he made a statement that made me feel like that officer is usually doing stuff like that. He was like bíwón se maá n se nìyen. He said it in Yoruba.
“I am writing a petition which I intend to serve the Lagos State Police Command either today or latest.” He added.
Meanwhile, as captured in one of the videos, the legal practitioner attempted to get the name of the officer from his uniform which.
Though unconfirmed, Sulola simply identified the officer based on the video as officer Ajogunmareo.
