A 27-year-old trader and mother of four, Victoria Amodu, yesterday told an Ikeja High Court, Lagos that an Investigative Police Officer (IPO) at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Ikeja Division, demanded sex from her to release her from custody. Amodu who sells bread for a living, is standing trial alongside one other person, Hammed Isiaka, for alleged conspiracy and armed robbery attack that was committed in August 2014.
One of the charges read against her in court reads, “Hammed Isiaka, Victoria Amodu and others now at large, on or about August 12, 2014 while armed with a pistol did rob one Elizabeth Moses of a cash sum of N35, 000 and a cheque of N1.4m.”
However while giving her testimony in court, Amodu told Justice Jose that she was unjustly arrested by the police on August 12th 2014 at Church Bus stop, Badagry, Lagos. According to her, she was selling bread at the bus stop when policemen raided the area, arrested her and others and bundled them into their truck, where they met some men who were already tied up.
“I was arrested by the police while I was selling bread and taken to the station at SARS, Ikeja. An IPO (name not mentioned) there told me to call someone that would come for my bail. I called a neighbor, a lady that helps me look after my kids. When she arrived, the IPO said a woman could not sign my bail bond, which he put at N400,000. I became worried because I didn’t know any man to call since I was no longer living with my husband and I was also new in Lagos. I decided to call my father but he refused to come to the station. He said since I was married he had no hand in anything concerning me. I didn’t know what else to do at this time, so I started begging the IPO to let me go and take care of my kids since I didn’t commit any offense. The IPO took me outside the cell to a corner and said that I am a pretty lady and that if I submit myself to him, I would be freed. I got angry and shouted at him, asking why he would make such a statement to me. He immediately dragged me back to the cell. Some others who were arrested that day were released after they paid money, though I don’t know how much they paid. Nights after, the IPO brought out some case files and told me and others in the cell to sign them. He said that when we were done signing, we would be released. I agreed to sign the documents on the condition that he would not touch me. But the other men refused saying they couldn’t sign what they didn’t know. The IPO immediately brought out his gun and threatened to shoot them if they didn’t sign and they fearfully signed it. After signing the documents, we were all taken to a Magistrates Court and from there, to Kirikiri Prison.”
Amodu pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy and permit her to go home to cater for her children.
The judge, however, adjourned the case till November 29th for adoption of final addresses.