TODAY AT THE POLICE STATION

Have you ever visited a Nigerian Prison? hmm! if you haven't i can assure you that its a horrible place and worse place to ever find yourself in. i always tell people if you intend to get into any form of fight or trouble with anyone, try to visit one of our prisons or police station and then you may just be thinking twice. the prisons are a reminder of our colonial past no form of improvement has been made on the structures after what our colonial masters did. The buildings are completely worn out, the state of living of the inmates is appalling. if you are awaiting trial, you are put in a cell with about twenty people, you may not have your bath in months, that's why most times when prisoners are brought to court, the court room begins to smell within few minutes of their arrival.

This morning i got a call from a client who was arrested and detained in the police station. i quickly get dressed and drove to the police station. I  was able to get to the station in good time, but we all had to wait for the complainant. While waiting i start to talk with the DPO. The complainant comes in later with his brother, and they begin to narrate their ordeal. in fact after narrating their story, and listening to my client's side of the story, my lips  just drop open, its like the ground should open for me to bury my head. how on earth would my client have done such a thing, i know this guy well , quest for money can make some men go an extra mile, but to be honest its not worth it. how would he have collected rent from the complainant for property that was not under his care. the former tenant told him he was relocating to a better apartment, and that he had unexpired rent. He fell for the trap by agreeing to let out the place on his behalf without consulting with the landlord or his agent, now after collecting the money from the complainant, the first tenant is no where to be found. And  to make matters worse, the landlord has sold the entire house, and the new buyer had given all the old tenants one year to vacate the premises. 

The police officer/DPO began to shout on top of his voice, 'you committed a crime and you went to call a lawyer. what is your lawyer going to do, i will detain you in my station until you cough out the money'. 

Before i could  alter a word, he was told to take off his cloths, he was left with only his boxers on, and pushed into a cell. that's what we call JUNGLE JUSTICE! no investigation to ascertain the truth, you are just sent straight into the cell. straight to HELL!

while my client is locked up in the cell, i go the office to discuss with the Police/DPO. i am told amongst other things that he would be realised once he is able to at least make some deposit of what he owes the complainant. if not the matter would be charged to court.

Up till now, his family has not being able to raise the money, so he is still in police custody, he has refused to eat, but that's to his own detriment. Also, whereas bail is free, the police has given us their bill too. Niger police!

dont judge a book by its cover