Woman Petitions AIG Over Inland Town DPO’s Alleged Intimidation, Forced Eviction, Demands Redeployment

A petition has been filed against CSP Augustina Okeke, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Inland Town Police Station in Onitsha, Anambra State, accusing her of police intimidation, forceful ejection, and unprofessional conduct.

The petition, submitted by GINALEXI SOLICITORS on behalf of their client, MRS UZOAMAKA CONFIDENCE OKO, calls for urgent intervention from the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 13 Zonal Headquarters, Ukpo.

According to the petition, the client was arrested and detained by the DPO over a civil matter involving a lost entrance key to her apartment. The client’s sub-landlord, Chukwuemeka Ogbaje, allegedly made several sexual advances towards her, which she refused. The sub-landlord then allegedly used the DPO’s influence to deal with the client.

The law firm sent a lawyer, James Chukwuma Esq., to secure the client’s release on bail. However, the DPO and the Investigation Police Officer (IPO) allegedly became uncooperative and unresponsive. The client’s three minor children were forced out of the police station around 10 pm and had to sleep outside the police gate under harsh conditions.

On March 22, 2024, the DPO allegedly detailed police officers to forcefully eject the client from her one-room apartment, despite her rent being valid until June 2024. The petition argues that the DPO has no legal right or moral justification to order the client to repaint the apartment from which she was illegally ejected without a valid court order.

The law firm is calling for the redeployment of CSP Augustina Okeke to the Command Headquarters, stating that a DPO who sleeps before 8 pm every day is unfit to handle a police post, let alone a famous division like the Inland Town Police Station.

The petition urges the Assistant Inspector General of Police to direct the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, to take action and save the Nigeria Police Force from further embarrassment.