- By Kamil Opeyemi & Omolade Durojaye
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Idowu Owohunwa has directed the removal of a Divisional Police Officer over allegations of sexual harassment made by a woman in the state.
The DPO of Olosan Division was removed today after a meeting the CP held with all parties in the case after a woman alleged that she was molested by one scraps merchant in the Mushin area of Lagos simply identified as Bebex.
She had claimed that the culprit molested her while some policemen also took money from her before they effected the arrest of the culprit.
Omolara had in a video last week narrated how the suspect, Bebex and his employees molested her while heading home.
“Bebex is his name, he sells spare part in Ladipo Market. This evening, I went to the junction to get food for me and my kid. I was fasting. so I just wanted to break and this was the way I dressed to the junction.”
Omolara narrated that, on her way coming back, Bebex called her and asked her to name her price.
According to her, she was confused by the manner Bebex approached her.
“Name your price, I want to touch those things that you are holding.” He said and I was like what am I holding? I thought he was referring to the food I was holding and I said “okay this is the food” and he said “no don’t you need money” and he said I should come that he should help me manage them. I told him that am a married woman and he said that don’t I need money that whether my husband have money.
I insulted him and left.”
She quoted Bebex to have ordered someone called “Ali” to slap her and she expressed amazement at such audacity.
“slap me for what and then he (Ali) slapped me after which some elderly people came to my rescue.
She quoted Ali to have threatened to beat her and “nothing would happen”.
“They snatched my phone and my chain because my phone was in my hands. I just bought it because of the kind of job am doing. Then, he went to call the police and that I shouldn’t pass through there again and that all was a matter of money boasting that there is nothing money can’t resolve,” Omolara had earlier narrated
In the second video believed to have been recorded under duress, she said, “My name is James Omolara, the woman in the molestation issue with Bebex.
“That was not really what happened, It was out of anger that I made that video. What really happened was that I was coming back from where I went to get my food, he was just admiring me. He told me to bring the food in my hand and I misquoted him because I was angry before.
“Yes! that’s the truth. He was playing with me and I took it wrongly.
“It was his guys that slapped me, he didn’t touch me he didn’t beat me, out of anger that was what made me do the video. So, I’m very sorry for that.”
However, in his reaction to the video and allegations of sexual harassment, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Idowu Owohunwa invited the two sides to his office on Tuesday through which he was able to establish the truth.
Having established the truth, the Commissioner ordered the immediate removal of the Divisional Police Officer whose personnel were also accused of collecting money from Omolara and by also forcing her to debunk her claims in the earlier video.
“The CP also identified professional misconduct on the part of some of the police officers involved in the case. For this, the Command Provost has been directed to immediately commence disciplinary action against the officers concerned.
“CP Owohunwa orders the immediate removal of the DPO of Olosan Police Station with immediate effect for the arrest of the culprits and those responsible for forcing her to debunk the allegation,” the state’s PPRO, Benjamin Hundeyin disclosed this via his Twitter handle on Tuesday
He added that, the alleged sexual abuser, Bebex, had been detained and was expected to be arraigned in court tomorrow.
“Lagos Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa has directed the Gender Department to take over the case.
“CP Owohunwa has also directed the Provost to investigate all Police Officers involved in the collection of money from the nursing mother before following her to effect the arrest of the culprits and those responsible for forcing her to debunk the allegation.”