The Office of Public Defender in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, has promised to provide free legal service to Mr. Gbolahan Olayinka, the man allegedly brutalised by men of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
A ranking official of the OPD, who craved anonymity, said this on the phone on Wednesday.
The official said, “We are ready to defend him if he does not have a lawyer to represent him. This is an issue bordering on fundamental human rights.
“We will invite the victim to our office. If we find out he does not have a lawyer to represent him, we will take up the matter.”
Olayinka on Tuesday accused men of the FRSC, Oshodi Unit, Lagos State, of tying him to a telecommunication mast and brutalising him for allegedly obstructing other motorists.
He had gone to buy fuel for his official car when one of the three FRSC men at the scene thereafter attempted to deflate his tyre, an act he tried to restrain leading to his being beaten to a pulp.
Lagos State Sector Commander, FRSC, Mr. Nseobong Akpabio, had already set up a disciplinary committee to investigate the matter.
Expectedly, the incident has generated a lot of comments from online readers, condemning the brutality.
A reader, Musari Oluwalambe, urged the FRSC to investigate the matter to the letter.
“I think these FRSC boys need more orientation. They should also study the Act that established the corps very well. The Act does not permit any corps marshal to put handcuffs on someone; this case should be investigated thoroughly.”
Another reader, Mr. Sodiq Abdul, said, “This country is finished. If the FRSC can do this, I imagine what police will do to an alleged armed robber.
“I once had an experience with the FRSC but luckily for me before it got to this level, I had faked-calling a DPO friend of mine in State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.
“After a huge scene, they called for more officers and took me to their Yaba office. There, I was thoroughly abused. It took the intervention of a senior officer of the corps before they left me.
According to another reader, Muyiwa Ademola, since this is just one side of the story, the public should wait for the outcome of the disciplinary committee.
“How sure are we that the man is saying the truth? I have seen drivers brutalise FRSC officers on the road. We have cases where motorists run over them while they are doing their job; so let’s hear from the other party too,” he said.
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