By ESTHER EGBE
A tipper driver shot in the right arm by the police at a checkpoint for refusing to part with N200 and abandoned to his fate, seeks compensation from the police authorities
OlufemiFagbemi, 35 years old and a tipper driver had the premonition of what laid in wait for him on 30thAugust 2010 when he woke up early in the morning to prepare for his daily routine of supplying sand to construction sites,he would probably have decided against embarking on the journey that nearly claimed his life.
On the fateful day, Fagbemi, National Daily gathered,he was caught up in the usual traffic gridlock that often characterises most cities, especially Lagos. It was while he was on traffic, obviously running late, that a team of policemen waved him to the side of the road near Oyebanji Street, Lagos Island and asked to be ‘settled’.
Curiously, his explanation that he had no dime on him, especially as it was his first trip in the day,he did not go down well with the policemen, one of which was later identified as Corporal Abolanle Ibikunle, who at the time of the incidence was serving at the Adeniji Adele Police Station.
Fagbemi was surprised at the behaviour of the policemen following his explanation, he was shocked that they insisted that he would not be let ‘off the hook’ unless he greased their palm. According to him, while some members of the police team gave a go wave, Corporal Ibikunle stuck to his guns. Then, Fagbemi brought the engine of his vehicle to live, eased it into gear and moved. Corporal Ibukunle, still bent on the N200 gave him a hot chase.
He caught up with him at Pelewura, which is about 30 foot-flights away from the spot where he was originally stopped. He slowed down and allowed it to move ahead. Suddenly, the policeman jumped down and ordered me to stop. he did exactly as he was told. After asking me a few questions, he ordered that he should turn off the engine of the tipper.he explained to him that the kick starter was bad and that if he turned it off, the engine may not be able to start again, particularly as it was fully loaded,” Fagbemi told the newspaper in an interview.
For the discerning, these were enough danger signals, but Fagbemi`s mind wandered afar off. And understandably, so as Corporal Ibukunle, apparently angry, was bellowing out orders. Corporal Ibukunle assured him that he had invited a towing vehicle to tow his tipper away. Fagbemi turned his engine off and just as he made to move away, the bubble burst. Corporal Ibukunle, who throughout the time had been caressing his riffle, irritated his trigger and shot Fagbemi on his right arm.“he did not know what had happened initially he tried to move the arm, which was resting on the steering. He could not move my arm and then, the pain followed. It then dawned on me that he had shot me and so he instructed my colleagues, who were with me in the vehicle not to allow him to escape,” he told National Daily.
Soon, people began to gather, including his colleagues who were miffed at his action. ”It was at this point that we realised that he had actually lied to his colleagues that he was going to buy sachet water,” Fagbemi said. Immediately, arrangement was made to move Fagbemi to the hospital using the police patrol van in which they had come to the checkpoint. For nearly two hours, no hospital was willing to accept him, because of a police report. “When it became clear that no hospital was ready to accept me, he suggested to them to take me to the military hospital. When we got to the military hospital, the doctors and nurses on duty also insisted on having a police report before they could treat me. So, the police officers took me to their station. However, when we got there, they made desperate efforts to conceal their nefarious deed from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), but succeeded all the same in procuring a police report. On returning to the military hospital, on learning what happened, the soldiersstripped him naked and took them to theirGuardroom,” he stated.
However, what baffled Fagbemi was that after depositing a sum of N50, 000.00 at the hospital, and ascertaining what actually transpired, Corporal Ibikunle was said to have been re-instated into the service after a reported dismissal. He paid for the operation on my own; they didn’t know how e fed or took care of myself while in the hospital. And ever since leaving the hospital almost a year ago, he have not been able to do anything because the arm is virtually useless now. But the most annoying thing is that we have it on good authority that he is presently serving at Central Police Station in Adekunle. Yusuf Lasisi (IPO).
Meanwhile, Chief Folorunsho Fagbemi, the father of the victim of the alleged crime, told the paper that he was distraught on hearing the news on the day in question. Speaking in Yoruba, Chief Fagbemi said that being the bread winner in the family, the incident has created a big vacuum in the survival of the family. He said the most annoying part of it is that neither Ibikunle nor police authority has shown remorse for the action. “We spent money and time trying to save his life and it is surprising that the police authority was not bothered at all. We even have it on good authority that the offending police authority has been re-instated into service.
“Femi has been there for me ever since he lost the mother. The most painful aspect of the entire thing is that he cannot do anything with that arm again. How will he be able to ply his trade as things are at the moment?”
He therefore called for support from government such that his son will not constitute a liability to the society.
Meanwhile, there are reports that the matter has been instituted at Lagos High Court with Oluwafemi claiming damages from the police authority.
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