A couple identified as Mr. Chukwuka Paul and Mrs. Ebele Paul were brutalised by members of the police force on Thursday the 19th of May 2016.
It was gathered that police officers stormed Paul’s workplace, a house furnishings store and allegedly ordered the victim to get into their car.
Paul tried to protest but got a heavy beating for his trouble. His wife was not exempt from the brutality as she was also beaten and stripped when she tried to call for help.
He was taken to Area K command where he was held for 72 hours during which time he was allegedly subject to regular beatings.
He was finally released, but what did he do to deserve such a treatment?
It was gathered that Paul had sold a bed to an customer who had then withheld payment for a period of about 3 years. At this point Paul asked for his money back, the woman on her part went to the police and claimed that she had been assaulted by Paul. The police in apparent retaliation went and allegedly did the above to Paul.
The president Obada zone 5 Igbo Community, Samuel Egwu narrated the story of what happened and bemoaned the conduct of the police in taking such action without hearing both sides of the story.
He called on the Inspector General of Police Solomon Arese and the Governor of the state to intervene in the matter.
The patron of the Igbo community Obada fortune estate Alex Nwagwu, also spoke along the same lines, condemning the actions of the police and stating that people felt more afraid than protected by the Nigerian police.
The victim himself spoke on the matter to reporters. He narrated his tale giving some clarity to otherwise grey areas.
He said he’d sold a bed to one Mrs. Ogunfowokan who was a neighbour. She’d explained she didn’t have the money and Paul had decided to sell the bed anyway in the hopes that she’d pay at the end of the week which she’d acquiesced to.
She had paid half the fee and then proceeded to pay installmentally over the course of 3 years.
Then according to Paul on the 19th of May, he’d still been owed N65,000 which he’d asked for, at this the woman took offense and allegedly turned it into an argument.
Paul said he was then accosted by policemen who had only asked his identity before beating him severely.
He also narrated his experience in prison where he said he was beaten mercilessly and also possibly poisoned.
He said he’d been forced to drink a cup of tea that didn’t agree with his stomach and that he’d been in pain since then.
He appealed to Nigerians and the IGP to come to his aid and seek justice for him.
Reporters were able to gather some eyewitnesses who refused to be named but stated that they felt the actions of the police were wrong and that Mrs. Ogunfowokan had used her leverage with the police to have Paul beaten. They also stated that Paul was a businessman of good standing and was innocent in the matter.
You can see pictures of Paul and his wife with their injuries below.
