Sergeant threatens police brutality panel member, begs for forgiveness

There was disquiet at the Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation Against Police Brutality when a policeman, Sergeant Adeleke Olalekan, allegedly threatened members of the panel.

The panel, which sat at the Magistrate Court 1, Isabo, Abeokuta, on Monday, was cross-examining the Officer in-Charge of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, CSP Gbenga Megbope.

Olalekan had accompanied his boss, Megbope, who was a respondent in a case of brutality against some people in the state.

Olalekan was, however, allegedly caught pointing at the panel members in a manner suggestive of threats.

The Chairman of the panel, Justice Solomon Olugbemi, called him out and booked him for punishment as stipulated under the commission of inquiry law.

While reading out the law against the policeman’s action, the chairman said, “Any act of disrespect, insult or threat to the commissioners or any panel members while sitting in commission or any act of disrespect, insult or threat to a commissioner or panel members at any other time or place on account of his proceedings in his capacity as a commissioner or panel member shall be deemed to be an act of contempt within the meaning of this law under Section 16 of the same law.”

Olugbemi noted that the sergeant ought to be recommended for trial at a magistrate’s court.

But Olalekan, while being questioned, prostrated and pleaded for forgiveness.

The panel pardoned him, while the chairman warned against disrespect for the panel.