Randy DPO demoted, placed on suspension

Five months after a 31-year-old lady who was detained at Onikan Police Station was raped by the divisional police officer, a Superintendent of Police(SP) Mr. Adekunle Awe in Lagos, news has now filtered in that the policeman has been demoted and placed on suspension.

This revelation was made by a member of the panel constituted to investigate the rape case instituted against Awe.

Awe is a Superintendent of Police, but with the recent demotion, he would plunge to the rank of an assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP).

It will be recalled that the lady, Miss. Akinwunmi, alleged that the DPO, instructed one of his men, inspector Ajiduwe to bring her to his office for debriefing of the case that was alleged against her. He allegedly pounced and raped her after Ajiduwe left the office.

Miss. Akinwunmi who claimed she was arrested on April, 15, 2014, at about 1: am, further said that she was reported to the police by her madam, Mrs. Pelumi, who runs a local cafeteria at number 11 Keffi Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

She reportedly said: “I was detained in the cell and at about 10pm, one Inspector Ajiduwe brought me out and took me to the DPO’s office, where he raped me in his office without protection. He threatened to send me to prison if I tell anyone.”

After the news broke, Awe was immediately removed as the DPO Onikan, while the Inspector General of Police, ordered that a panel be set up to investigate Akinwunmi’s allegations.

The investigation had been intense when the saga started, with the Police Authority quickly setting up a panel and non-governmental organisations had elbowed and shoved one another, battling for which of them would stand beside Akinwunmi in the fourth battle.

But after a while, everyone seemed to forget and went to bed. But the victim, Akinwunmi did not forget, for she lost her job during the furor.

There was an understanding that the findings of the panel would be made public, but the police had determinedly kept a sealed lip.

It was however gathered that the Awe has been demoted by two ranks, although no official report announcement has been made.

A member of the panel said: “Nobody has forgotten about the matter. The accused policeman, Awe has been demoted and is on suspension as we speak.”