Police Forced Me To Copy, Sign Written Statement, Evans Co-Defendant Tells Court

Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, one of the co-defendants of alleged kidnap
kingpin Evans told Justice Hakeem Oshodi of Lagos High Court,
Ikeja, on Tuesday that police forced him to copy and sign an
already prepared statement.

The defendant, who is undergoing trial with others over alleged
conspiracy and kidnapping of Mr Anselm Dunu, said he was arrested
and taken away without being told his offence or to be allowed to
inform his relatives, adding that he was tortured at Elere Police
Station, Agege, until one of his right fingers broke, in addition
to multiple body injuries.

Nwachukwu, while being led in evidence by his lawyer, alleges
that the police teleguided him on what to say in a confessional
statement captured on video. ‘I said exactly what they ordered me
to say. A policeman, Idowu Haruna, told me that if I want to be
alive that I should cooperate because three suspects who didn’t
cooperate had died.

‘He said I should just go and bow to his boss and say that I am
sorry without saying more. I did as he told me. I tried to write
what I know, they said, that’s not what they want me to write. I
was taken back into the cell. Days later, I was brought out and
showed a written statement. They ordered me to copy it in my
handwriting. Four of the policemen had guns. I did and signed it as
I was ordered. They also told me what to say while they video-taped
me.

‘A few days later, I was taken to Ikoyi, the Inspector General
of Police’s lodge, as I realised later because I was blindfolded
while we were in a police vehicle to the place. One of them said I
was going to see Evans. I don’t know who was Evans because I never
met any of the defendants before.

‘Before then, I was allowed to see my people. I told them, I was
arrested for what I didn’t know about. I am a businessman. I have a
shop at Edo Plaza, shop B70, Tradefair Market, Balogun, Lagos,
where I sell phones. I also run a bar at Frank road, Iba, Lagos. I
have employees. I knew Mr Anselm Dunu and was his campaign manager
when he contested for an election. He sells bottled water and
fruits beverages at the same market.’

Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter until July 9 for the
continuation of defence.

Okwuchukwu Nwachukwu, one of the co-defendants of alleged kidnap
kingpin Evans told Justice Hakeem Oshodi of Lagos High Court,
Ikeja, on Tuesday that police forced him to copy and sign an
already prepared statement.

The defendant, who is undergoing trial with others over alleged
conspiracy and kidnapping of Mr Anselm Dunu, said he was arrested
and taken away without being told his offence or to be allowed to
inform his relatives, adding that he was tortured at Elere Police
Station, Agege, until one of his right fingers broke, in addition
to multiple body injuries.

Nwachukwu, while being led in evidence by his lawyer, alleges
that the police teleguided him on what to say in a confessional
statement captured on video. ‘I said exactly what they ordered me
to say. A policeman, Idowu Haruna, told me that if I want to be
alive that I should cooperate because three suspects who didn’t
cooperate had died.

‘He said I should just go and bow to his boss and say that I am
sorry without saying more. I did as he told me. I tried to write
what I know, they said, that’s not what they want me to write. I
was taken back into the cell. Days later, I was brought out and
showed a written statement. They ordered me to copy it in my
handwriting. Four of the policemen had guns. I did and signed it as
I was ordered. They also told me what to say while they video-taped
me.

‘A few days later, I was taken to Ikoyi, the Inspector General
of Police’s lodge, as I realised later because I was blindfolded
while we were in a police vehicle to the place. One of them said I
was going to see Evans. I don’t know who was Evans because I never
met any of the defendants before.

‘Before then, I was allowed to see my people. I told them, I was
arrested for what I didn’t know about. I am a businessman. I have a
shop at Edo Plaza, shop B70, Tradefair Market, Balogun, Lagos,
where I sell phones. I also run a bar at Frank road, Iba, Lagos. I
have employees. I knew Mr Anselm Dunu and was his campaign manager
when he contested for an election. He sells bottled water and
fruits beverages at the same market.’

Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter until July 9 for the
continuation of defence.