Three policemen who assaulted an interior designer and confiscated an Apple iPhone 6 from him have been fished out by the Police, which has commenced the process of taking disciplinary measures against them.
In a statement titled, JUSTICE FOR JUSTICE OBASI, Police headquarters spokesman, deputy commissioner of police Frank Mba said, “Following the directives of the IGP, the Enugu State Police Command has since identified, traced and arrested the three policemen involved in the assault of citizen – Justice Obasi.
“The policemen are currently in custody pending the commencement of their Orderly Room Trial – an internal disciplinary procedure of the Force.
“As we begin the new year, IGP M.A Adamu wishes to restate his zero tolerance for the abuse of the rights of Nigerians and his commitment to running a Citizens’ Friendly and Rule of Law compliant Police Force.
“He further assures that citizen Justice Obasi will certainly get justice in this case.”
Earlier Premium Times published an interview with Obasi in a story on how the the three police officers on Saturday morning near a popular bus stop, in Enugu city illegally confiscated his iPhone and afterward assaulting him when he insisted on getting back his phone.
Mr Obasi told PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday, he did not know why the officers took on him.
“The thing was like a dream to me,” he said.
“I was coming to my office yesterday morning. On reaching the bus stop, the policemen stopped our bus. After the finished collecting N50 (from the bus driver), they said I should come down (I was sitting in the front seat), they searched me and searched my bag. They searched some other guys inside the bus,” Mr Obasi said.
“Since the bus stop is close to my office, I said let me continue the journey on my leg.
“One of the policemen ran after me and shouting that I should come back. They said I should bring my phone, they held me on my belt,” he said.
The officers slapped me and forcefully collected the phone when I was reluctant to hand it over, Mr Obasi said. He said the officers hit him with a rifle.
According to Mr Obasi, it took the intervention of a man who claimed to be a retired police officer before he was given back his phone and allowed to walk away.
Mr Obasi told PREMIUM TIMES he is in the hospital receiving treatment after his encounter with the police.
He said the officers who assaulted him are serving at Uwani police station in Enugu and that he could identify them.
(Attached video courtesy of Premium Times)