An auto parts dealer in the Owode Onirin area of Lagos State,
Lukman Ogundele, has died in the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery
Squad, Lagos State Police Command.
Although the police formation had been reportedly evasive on the
whereabouts of the father of two children, a police charge sheet sighted
by our correspondent marked his name ‘late’.
We learnt that Lukman and his friend, Saheed Abayomi, had been
arrested by SARS operatives for facilitating the sale of a stolen Toyota
Camry.
It was gathered that the police apprehended Lukman in the midnight of
December 29, 2017, and took him into custody in Ikeja, where he was
detained alongside Abayomi and two others.
Our correspondent learned that Abayomi and Lukman’s families searched
for them at police stations across the state, until on December 31 when
Abayomi’s mother traced him to the SARS office.
It was gathered that Lukman’s wife, Wunmi Ogundele, and relatives
consequently visited SARS office on several occasions, but were not
allowed to see him.
“Anytime we went there, policemen would chase us away and they did
not allow us to see his friend, Saheed (Abayomi), so we could ask after
him (Lukman). I had traveled with the children for the Yuletide when he
was arrested,” Wunmi added.
His cousin, one Isaac, who went to the station on January 6, was
reportedly told that the Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Edwin
Obam, had taken him out.
After failed attempts to see him, his mother, Yemisi Ogundele, who
lives in Taraba State, was said to have traveled down to Lagos.
Yemisi said, “He sold auto parts and iron in Owode Onirin. A man
wanted to sell a car. He and Saheed got a buyer for the vehicle and the
person sold it to someone else. On December 29, in the night, some SARS
men went to his house in Itowolo, Ikorodu, with Saheed, and arrested
him.
“Our family members went to the SARS office, but the policemen did
not give them any attention. Last Wednesday, I came down to Lagos State
and went there. The policemen I met said they did not know anybody by
that name.
“I saw Saheed while he was being taken to the Ikeja Magistrate’s
Court that day with two others. I asked for my son, but they chased me
away. They did not allow me to get close to Saheed.”
The mother explained that Lukman’s brother and she met with an
official at the court, who showed them the charge preferred against him.
She said she was shocked when she discovered that her son was charged with robbery along with one Kehinde Hassan.
“His name on the heading of the charge sheet had been canceled, but
in the content, it was written as late Lukman Ogundele. That was when I
realized that my son died in the police custody, but they were trying to
cover up.
“When my daughter prodded the IPO further, he made a call. After a
few minutes, about eight armed policemen came to scare us away,” she
added.
Lukman’s uncle, Pastor Bolaji Michael, said a policeman confided in
him that Lukman was dead and appealed that the family should take the
death in good faith.
He said the family had contacted a lawyer to petition the police and take up the matter.
He said, “Lukman and Saheed were arrested for introducing a buyer to a
stolen vehicle. But he was charged with a separate count bordering on
robbery. We will be in court on Tuesday (today) to see what happens. We
will also get a lawyer to petition the Inspector-General of Police.
“Officially, SARS has not told the family that he is dead, which is
wrong. It was a policeman that told us that the boy slumped in custody
and died. He said he was not tortured and advised us to let go of the
matter. He said he would help us to collect his corpse. He said if we
let the case drag on, we might not get his corpse in one year.
“I disagreed with him and said we would take it up. This was a man
who had two kids of seven and nine years old and a wife. He must not die
just like that.”
Abayomi’s mother, who wanted to be identified as Iya Saheed, said a
SARS officer had promised her that Lukman and her son would be released
on bail as soon as the prime suspects in the case were arrested.
She said, “The officer promised that Saheed and Lukman would be
released once they got one Idowu and Kehinde, the prime suspects,
arrested. But after the two were caught, they did not release them.
“I was surprised when I got a call last Tuesday that they would be
charged to court. Saheed, Idowu and Kehinde were brought to the Ikeja
Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday, but Lukman was not there. The police
have postponed their arraignment to Tuesday (today).”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, said
Lukman died naturally on January 2, adding that the victim’s relatives
were informed about the death through a family member, who is a
policeman.
He said, “The boy was arrested for armed robbery with four others.
Along the line, he was sick while in the cell and was taken to the Lagos
State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja. The doctor treated him and
the police took him back. He was returned to custody.
“The next day, he collapsed and was rushed back to the hospital. On
getting to the hospital, he was confirmed dead by a doctor. Other gang
members have been arraigned and remanded in prison.”
