Assault: Police to prosecute spare parts dealer, CP removes DPO

Lagos CP, Idowu Owohunwa

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The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, on Tuesday, ordered that a spare parts dealer identified as Bebex be charged to court immediately for allegedly assaulting a married woman, Omolara James.

Owohunwa also removed the Mushin Divisional Police Officer for the shoddy manner in which his men handled the case when it was first reported at the station.

The state Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement he posted on his Twitter handle, @BenHundeyin, after a meeting Owohunwa had with stakeholders in the case in Lagos.

James had in a video that went viral on social media at the weekend, accused Bebex of alleged harassment and assault.

She alleged that when she did not yield to the man's sexual demand, he allegedly ordered his boys to slap her.

She, however, later released another video in which she recanted her earlier allegation.

There were, however, insinuations that she was pressured to recant, hence, the decision of the CP to reopen and take over the case.

Hundeyin disclosed that based on the need to ensure justice, Owohunwa personally interviewed all parties in the case, including James, Bebex, their lawyers, the landlord association and community members among others.

At the end of the engagement, the PPRO said the CP was convinced that Bebex has a case to answer and ordered his prosecution.

He said the engagement also showed that the policemen who handled the case engaged in professional misconduct, hence the CP directed the Command Provost to commence the process of disciplining them.

Hundeyin wrote, "CP Idowu Owohunwa, having carefully listened to all parties, has established that there are indeed cases to answer and has therefore directed that the matter be charged to court immediately.

"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.

"And finally, the DPO Mushin, in whose division all the officers aforementioned are serving, has been relieved of his posting with immediate effect."

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