The family of Musbau Ogidan, languishing in police detention, are appealing to the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to wade into the arrest and detention of their son as they claimed he is not a criminal.
Ogidan, 23, was arrested by operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, Adeniji Adele, Lagos State, after his friend, Hassan, who was arrested by the police, allegedly pointed at him as one of his close confidants.
Before his arrest and detention, Ogidan was an ad-hoc staff with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria at Ibeshe, Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State.
He is, however, said to be addicted to marijuana.
It was gathered that on January 3, 2013, the said Hassan led security operatives to his (Hassan’s) home at Ibeshe.
Hassan has been in the custody of the police for illegal possession of fire arms for over six months.
Ismalia Olumitide, a relative of Ogidan, said It was around 11am that fateful day while the police were searching for Hassan’s relatives that Ogidan was picked up and he has been in detention since then.
Hassan was arrested last year when two factions of land-grabbers at Ibeshe town were embroiled in a fierce battle for control of a vast portion of land in the area.
Hassan, a reputable social miscreant, had been intercepted by a group of land owners where a gun was reportedly found on him.
Hassan was later handed over to the police and taken to FSARS, Adeniji Adele.
One of Ogidan’s sisters told The Eagle Online: “When after six months no one came to look for him (Hassan), the police decided to take him to his abode, ostensibly to locate some of his partners-in-crime and members of his family.
“When none of Hassan’s family members was forthcoming, the law enforcement agents asked if he did not have any friend they could speak with.
“Hassan mentioned Ogidan and by the time the law enforcement agents got to Ogidan’s house, they reportedly found him covered with a thick smoke of marijuana.
“For that alone, Ogidan walked into trouble waters.
“He was summarily arrested and taken to custody, apparently for being in possession of marijuana.”
Ogidan’s sister claimed that her brother had no reason to be a land grabber.
She claimed that Ogidan once lived with her but decided to team up with his fiend at Elemere in the area after he was due to complete his furniture apprenticeship.
Olumide, who sells building materials at Jankara auto spare parts market, Ojokoro area of Lagos State, said the police has not found any incriminating exhibit on Ogidan as his stay in police custody is a gross violation of his fundamental human right.
Olumide said: “It is sad that that it has come to this stage.
“On many occasions, we had tried to change the kind of lifestyle the boy lives but he would not budge.
“Yes, he is addicted to marijuana.
“If the police are charging him for that, it is a different matter entirely but they are detaining him for gun possession and armed robbery, which he did not commit.
“Now that we have been told to bring N200,000 to bail him, I can tell you that it will be difficult to do that at this time because everyone is broke.
“His sister just got a new shop that she wanted to move to, which she could not because of financial constraint.”
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