The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Lagos State, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, has explained why Corporal Fauzziyah Isiak, popularly known as Fauzziyah the Honey Seller on Twitter, was detained despite tendering her resignation from the force.
Isiak had taken to Twitter to narrate how she was detained by the police after turning in her resignation.
“I never saw this coming. I have never thought I’ll be put in detention without interrogation. All I did was try to resign. I have been trying to resign from the Police since last year but my letters were not approved. My boss had called me to show up yesterday 24th of May to meet the Deputy commissioner for an interview.
“I thought they were finally going to approve my resignation but the only words I heard was that I should be detained to be tried and dismissed. Due to the shock, I couldn’t say anything as the officer led me away,” she said.
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The bee keeper added, “Later, I heard that I should have begged and cried but my lack of reaction worsened the matter. I called a river after it all dawned on me. I have not taken my clothes and shoes off since yesterday. I can’t even change my sanitary pad. My migraine is throbbing at full speed and my head is about to explode from exhaustion.
“My mother has called that she has been advised to come and plead that I will continue working. I have been working for 6 years and I think it is fair to let someone go and aid them to leave if they do not want to stay anymore. I have been very easygoing since I was born, this is my first time in this kind of situation. I have always worked in the administrative department, in fact, the religious department of the Nigeria Police. I believe in pursuing everything with passion, I always remove myself whenever I think I am no longer giving full attention to a job or career.
“I don’t know how long I’ll be here for but I really need to sleep. If the women at the provost’s office had not given me some Paracetamol yesterday afternoon, I may not have survived until now. I don’t know how long I will be here for but I’ll appreciate a blanket with a sanitary pad. The cold is about to snuff my life out. As I sit here through the night and the mosquitos hum in my ears. I keep talking to them to ask them why someone who could have stamped my letter and put me through on what to do will have me held down and humiliated instead.”
“My phone will die soon. This is a cry for help. I want to go home. Find me please Fauzziyah Ebunoluwa Isiak,” the distressed police officer added.
In a reaction to Isiak’s tweets, the PPRO, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, explained why she was detained.
He said, “It is one thing to turn in your resignation. It is another thing for the application to be processed, upon which you receive your discharge certificate.
“Till you get the discharge certificate, you remain a serving member of the Force, bound by all extant rules and regulation of service.”
Hundeyin explained that every serving member of the force knows that absence from duty for twenty-one days without leave or permission automatically results in the affected person being declared a deserter.
“Corporal Fauzziyah Isiak, who serves in the office of the Imam of the Command, without leave, permission or discharge from service, absconded from duty for over a month, in flagrant disregard for the conditions of service she willingly signed to.
“For this offence against discipline, she was detained yesterday for the commencement of her orderly room trial today.
“Secondly, she has maliciously brought the name of the force into disrepute by distorting/misrepresenting facts – a discreditable conduct that amounts to another disciplinary offence.
“Nevertheless, she would have an opportunity to explain herself at the trial, after which a decision will be made,” Hundeyin stated.
He further queried if due process was followed in Isiak’s supposed resignation.
“Last year, at the start of the honey season, she absconded from work without permission. When reached on phone to ascertain her whereabouts, she sent in her resignation – not tenable.
“Same thing this year. She sent in a resignation letter after first going AWOL. Due process must be followed.
“Her trial has commenced for absence from duty for fifty-three days and flouting of the NPF Social Media Policy,” the police spokesman stated.