Barber arrested for shunning homosexual advances

The Coalition of Human Rights Defenders  (COHRD), has urged the Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU), Force Headquarters, Abuja to carry out thorough investigation of the case where a barber was arrested for shunning homosexual advances in Imo State.

The convener of COHRD, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, ESQ, has urged acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr. Abayomi Shogunle, in charge of CRU, to also beam his searchlight on the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), one Mr. Akpan, handling the case, alleging extortion of the barber, identified as 22-year-old Promise Uwemedimo Udo.

Trouble for Promise started on October 26, after he was allegedly approached by 25-year-old Chisom, living in his neighbourhood.

Effiong, a human right activist, who took up the battle on behalf of Promise said: “Chisom asked Promise repeatedly whether he belonged to "game"? He told Promised that he "loved him" and would want to be his friend. Promise asked him what he meant by game? Whether he was a cultist? Promise was told that the said "game" was homosexuality. The following day, Chisom approached Promise again and made the same illicit and amorous advances. This infuriated Promise who then publicly embarrassed him and warned him to steer clear from him. Chisom threatened Promise and vowed to deal with him.”

On October 28, Promise was arrested by the police sequel to a complaint by Chisom. Promise was taken to Hardel Police Station, in Orji Local Government Area of Imo State.
Some members of the neighbourhood/public, who were familiar with the matter, went to the police station and insisted that Promise was innocent and should be released.
The IPO, one Mr. Akpan, on hearing the testimony of Promise which was corroborated by members of the public, including those who said that they know Chisom as someone with homosexual tendencies who had been harassing other young men in the community, insisted that Promise would only be released upon payment of the sum of N10, 000.
Effiong narrated: “Promise told the IPO that he was struggling to survive and didn’t have such an amount. Following the reluctance of the IPO to release him, Promise surrendered the sum of N1500 that he had with him to Mr. Akpan. Before eventually releasing him, the IPO asked Promise to return to the station by Monday October 31, 2016, to complete the amount or risk being arrested again.
“The IPO on Monday insisted when Promise reported at the station that he should complete the amount of money. Promise told him that he had no more money to give him. Since Promise had no money to give, the IPO asked him to return to the station again on November 1, 2016. Promise again voluntarily went, but the IPO did nothing except harassed him for more money.”
The activist noted that since October 26, when Promise was arrested to this moment, Akpan has neither asked Promise questions on his encounter with Chisom nor explained the basis for asking him to give him more money.
“Promise is presently living in fear. Both the IPO and the man who made homosexual advances towards him have vowed to deal with him. He has no more money to give to Mr. Akpan,” said Effiong.
He added: “It is a sad commentary that a decent and God fearing citizen of Nigeria is being harassed and extorted for refusing to engage in illicit homosexual acts. It is particularly painful to note that Chisom, the complainant/homosexual man, is using the Nigeria Police Force to oppress an innocent young man for refusing his illicit advances. Homosexuality is a crime in Nigeria.
“I urge you to use your good offices to deter further harassment, arrest, detention or possible arraignment of Promise on trump-up charges. The extortion of the sum of N1500 and continued harassment of Promise for more money should be investigated. It is important for officers like the IPO in this case to be disciplined in line with the ongoing reformative efforts in the Nigeria Police Force.”