Cleric Tells Police To Prosecute Those Who Demolished His Property

Prophet Oni Martins, who is the Director-General of the Police Assistance Committee/Association of Tradesmen/Women and Artisans of Nigeria, has urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase to prosecute a “criminal gang”, which demolished his building and damaged his property worth N1.2billion in 2009 using a questionable court judgment.

In a petition to the police through his counsel, Gboyega Okenla, Martins said those who illegally demolished his property were still walking about free, six years after.

The cleric said he was aggrieved and highly discouraged that those who committed the crime have been shielded from prosecution.

According to him, the gang had been writing petitions to the police to undermine the investigation and question the investigators’ integrity. He said: “Their method of subverting the cause of justice has become apparent from the inability of the police to take the matter to court since 2009.”

Martins said the two-storey building, on Plot 15, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Ijeshatedo, was demolished by the armed thugs known as “land warriors” numbering about 200, accompanied by alleged impersonators who claimed to be bailiffs, flaunting a purported court judgment.

He said the hoodlums brought down the building housing warehouses, shops and a church hall, and carted away goods, which, according to him, is conservatively valued at N1.2billion. Martins said he developed mild stroke from the shock he felt after the demolition and was hospitalised for over four years.

Police spokesman for the Zone 2 Command, Adebowale Lawal, in response said the police did not abandon the case. He assured that the police would get to the root of the crime and bring the culprits to justice. According to Lawal, the police cannot be intimidated, nor has any officer been compromised. He insisted that investigation into the matter was still ongoing.

He said: “Prophet Oni should be rest assured that the police are on top of his case. Once investigation is concluded, those found culpable will be taken to court,” he assured.

—ngrguardiannews