Confusion as IPO leaves court with suspect

The Investigating Police Officer attached to the Maroko Police Station on Tuesday caused confusion at the Lagos Magistrate’s Court, Tinubu, Lagos Island after he suddenly got missing from the court premises with a suspected kidnapper.

Our correspondent learnt that the policeman, one Corporal Johnson Ime, deserted the court premises with the suspect after the case had been filed and assigned to the magistrate, Mrs. O.M. Ajayi in Court 14.

The court got to know that the policeman and the suspect were missing after Ajayi instructed the registrar to call the matter with suit no P/157/2014 for prosecution.

The charge sheet indicated that the suspect, one Ayotunde Fabamwo, was to be arraigned on seven counts, including attempted kidnap, fraud and threat to life.

Fabamwo, it was gathered, was the founder and the Chief Executive Officer of House of Twitch and Style, a company involved in event planning, fashion shows, modeling and entertainment.

He was said to have organised a pageant sometime in May 2013, in the Lekki area of the state, which was won by one Chidubem Osungade.

Osungade was not given the prizes he won. Rather, Fabamwo further gave him a contract to be the company’s ambassador, for which he was also allegedly not paid.

Efforts by Osungade to get what was owed him were said to have been met with false promises, which later resulted to threats.

It was learnt that the suspect and four armed soldiers, in July 2014 allegedly attempted to kidnap Osungade at his residence on Adelabu Close, Ikeja.

The matter was later reported to the police at Maroko and was subsequently taken to court, but the actions of the IPO on Tuesday prevented the matter from coming up for hearing.

After the disappearance, the registrar, Mrs. B.A. Ibrahim, said she called the IPO on the telephone and he promised to show up soon, but he had yet to do so as of 4pm on Wednesday.

She said, “This is very surprising. Why did he bring such sensitive matter to court when he knew he was not ready for prosecution? He just absconded with the suspect after the case has been registered. It is now affecting our records. The magistrate that assigned the matter has given me a query.

“When I called him on phone, he said he was discussing with the suspect somewhere.. At a point he switched off his phone.”

Attempts to get a reaction from the IPO were unsuccessful as he refused to comment on the matter. After several calls to his telephone line, he finally answered and said he had nothing to say on the issue.

“You said you are calling from where? Sorry I have nothing to say,” he said.