…As the Police Brutality Victim Now Rendered Homeless, Baby Dies as Police Fail to Honour Court Order

Now visually impaired victim of police brutality in Nigeria, Mr. Olaide Adebayo has been rendered homeless due to his inability to pay his rent.

Speaking at weekend with newsmen in Abuja, the visually impaired young man said he had been unable to pay his rent for the past three years which prompted his landlord to eject him.

Adebayo also disclosed that his wife lost their baby, in the process since the police brutality against him, due to lack of funds and natal care.

“I almost lost my wife in the process but I thank God for his mercies over my family. Some spirited individuals came to our rescue and we were able to save her life, but we lost the baby,” he lamented.

He therefore called on President Muhammad Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, the United Nations, spirited individuals, and human rights activists in the country, including Femi Foalana and the National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to his aid.

Further narrating his ordeal since the police brutality against him, Adebayo said he instituted a case, suit no M/554/2001 after he was attacked by policemen on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 along Alagbayan village near Odoba, Osun State and on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013 at the High Court sitting in Ibadan the sum of 20million was awarded to him against the Nigerian Police.

“The Nigeria Police appealed the judgment but on Tuesday, April 15, 2014 the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division upheld the judgment of the High Court.

“But the Police have refused to pay. Since the judgment was delivered one lawyer in Lagos was able to collect N313,000 out of the N20million awarded…,” he disclosed.

According to him, his lawyer had written to the AGF on February 26, 2016. The letter was acknowledged on March 24, 2016 by one Mrs. Ngozi Calista Nkem on behalf of the AGF but till date nothing has been heard again.

“Last year January I got in touch with Ordinary Ahmed of Brekete Family and he asked me to come to Abuja.

“I spoke on air on January 23 and many people reacted to my story. I have given updates on the issue several time but till date the Police have refused to pay up,” he said.

Apart from Brekete Family, Adebayo said the BBC Yoruba had interviewed him on the issue yet the Police have refused to budge.

“I am therefore appealing to President Buhari, the IGP, the United Nations, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Femi Falana and other human rights activists to help me and not allow me to die in this state,” he said.

The victim of police brutality told The Street Reporters Newspaper that the passionate appeal had become necessary because his right eye had started to deteriorate and required immediate medical attention.

He added that medical practitioners had earlier recommended another series of surgeries on the eye to prevent him from becoming totally blind.

There have been mounting campaigns against police brutality against citizens over the years.

Recently, the Amnesty International joined Nigerian activists in the campaign.

According to Amnesty International, in Nigeria, civilians are being extorted, raped, tortured, and killed by police officers who are members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad – SARS.

The international human rights group noted that victims of these crimes are still waiting for justice because the anti-torture law meant to provide justice is not being enforced.

The group added that survivors of police brutality like Adebayo have risked everything to tell their stories and seek justice, while the loved ones of those who have died do the same.

However, the police most of the time, like in the case of Adebayo, either unduly delay payment of compensation to victims or outrightly disregard court orders.