A tragic incident occurred in the Ipaja area of Lagos State on Wednesday when a young man fell into a canal while allegedly being chased by police officers.

In a post on X.com on Thursday, #Omorhemi, who claimed to be a friend of the victim’s wife, alleged that the police stopped the man on a bike, searched him, and accused him of being a “yahoo boy” due to his tattoos.

Sharing videos from the rescue effort, she wrote, “Yesterday morning, police chased my friend’s husband till he fell into the canal. They took his slippers and money that fell and left when people started shouting. This happened at federal bus stop, Ipaja Ayobo axis. He is currently unconscious at LASUTH. He is still on oxygen.”

“The officers were on mufti. They stopped him on bike, the bike man left. They searched him, insisting he is a Yahoo boy because of his tattoos, and started cocking their guns that they would shoot him. He started moving away, saying he’s not, and they started following him till he ran,” she added.

On Friday morning, #Omorhemi gave an update that the young died.

“He has given up! Yet to tell the wife as of now. I am not pleased to inform you that this young man died in the middle of the night.

“On Wednesday, a few hours after the incident, the wife went to the police station, Area P, to report. The officers told her they were the ones that pushed him. She couldn’t wait and wasn’t stable while still trying to get the husband to receive the best treatment. All hands have been on deck to make sure the man survived, which was why follow-up at the station was not done,” she wrote.

In a statement on Friday evening, the Lagos State Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, provided a different account of the incident, stating that the police did not chase or interact with the man, but rather, he ran and jumped into the canal after seeing the police approaching.

Hundeyin wrote, “The police visited the scene and met eyewitnesses on ground who voluntarily gave their statements regarding the unfortunate incident.

“At about 10 am on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, somewhere around Gowon Estate, the young man was a passenger on a motorcycle riding against traffic.

“Immediately they sighted the police approaching in their vehicle; the rider made a sharp U-turn while the passenger jumped off the motorcycle, crossed the road, and ran through the nearby tipper garage.

“People in the garage who saw him running towards the canal and at the same time emptying the contents of his pockets agitatedly warned him about a canal ahead. He did not stop but unfortunately jumped into the canal.”

Hundeyin maintained that the police officers did not interact with the victim or chase him.

He added, “The police officers, startled at his knee-jerk reaction, stopped their vehicle, alighted, and went in the direction of the canal.

“The people around informed the police that the young man jumped into the canal. They all went to look, waited some minutes, and did not see him, upon which the police left, believing he successfully evaded them.

“The police officers did not speak with him, did not touch him, did not chase him, did nothing. The young man simply saw them and bolted.

“Water Tipper Garage, Mosan, Okunola, Ipaja. That is the exact location for those who might wish to visit for verification.”

The spokesperson also expressed condolences to the victim’s family, saying, “May God give his family the fortitude to bear the sad loss. Amen.”

He further assured the public that the police would not tolerate any unprofessional behaviour from their officers.

“Lagosians are assured that #LagosPoliceNG, under CP Olanrewaju Ishola, would not condone any form of unprofessional conduct on the part of its officers,” he said.

The Department of State Services (DSS) has instituted a N5.5billion defamation suit against a group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) for allegedly making false claims that officials of the agency invaded its (SERAP’s) Abuja office.

In the suit, filed in the names of two of its officials – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – the DSS stated among others, that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on its reputation and that of the two officials involved.

The suit, filed on October 17 by DSS’ team of lawyers, led by Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), marked: CV/4547/2024, has SERAP and its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare listed as defendants.

The claimants stated, in their statement of claim, that, in line with its practice of engaging with officials of non -governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite its new leadership for a familiarisation meeting.

They added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.

The claimants, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.

They said it was surprising that shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle: @SERAPNigeria, claiming that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.

The claimant added that “on the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s  website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, “described as ‘a tall, large, dark-skinned woman’ and ‘a slim, dark skinned man,’ invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant.

“In their statement, the defendants also urged the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to immediately direct the DSS to end its intimidation, harassment and attack against the first defendant and the threat of arrest against its directors.

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as the Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN).

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”

They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to the claimants’ reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore, incompetent and unprofessional.

The claimants also stated that the defendants’ statements caused harm to the claimants’ reputation because staff of the DSS have formed the opinion that the ridicule and criticisms received by the DSS are a result of the claimants actions.

They added that as a result of the defendants’ false statements, the claimants are the subject of an ongoing investigation by the DSS; they have been made to make statements, subjected to interrogations, faced a disciplinary panel and now suspended from the DSS pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.

The claimants are therefore praying the court for the following reliefs:

*An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.

*An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5billion as damages for the libelous statements published about the claimants.

*Interest on the sum of N5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.

*AN order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N50million as costs of this action.

The case now assigned to Justice Yusuf Halilu of Court 13 of the High Court of the FCT, is yet to be scheduled for hearing.

There is a looming crisis in Aboh Kingdom, Ndokwa East LGA, Delta state, over the choice of Obi Gregory Oputa (111) as king.

The enthronement of the new monarch has caused sharp division among prominent indigenes of the community.

The four quarters that produce the king are Umu Ogwezi, Umu Ossai, Umu Obi and Umu Ojugbele.

The new monarch, Prince Gregory Oputa, was enthroned as the 20th Obi of Aboh on September 15, 2024.

The Nation gathered that the crisis has pitted Hon Olise Imegwu, former Speaker, Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Ajieh Ogwu, President General, Aboh community and the four quarters that make up the kingdom against the new king and some prominent traditional title holders in the community.

But the group backing the new monarch including Chief Paul Esumei, Ndanike of Aboh, Chief Ifeanyi Odili, Iyasele of Aboh, Chief Kenneth Odili, Ozeh of Aboh, and Isagba Ajieh of Aboh,  Chief Chris Ogwu, in a statement yesterday, threatened legal action against any individual or group misinforming the public or casting aspersion on the new monarch.

They urged Aboh indigenes to support the new monarch.

According to them, “it is a thing of joy that His Imperial Majesty, Obi Oputa III has emerged in the person of Prince Gregory Oputa and it is our duty as indigenes of Aboh to accord him the respect he deserves as his subjects.

Continuing, “there is no dispute arising from the emergence of the new King, Prince Gregory Oputa as due process was followed before he was crowned as the King amid jubilation by the people of Aboh Kingdom.”

“Those who were interested in becoming the King should know that traditionally, the stool is no longer vacant as all the rites have been performed and it is impossible for us to have two Kings in Aboh Kingdom at the same time.

“We should also bear in mind that it is the exclusive responsibility of the King makers to select who becomes a King in Aboh and they have discharged their functions diligently according to the criteria based on age-long custom and tradition of Aboh Kingdom.

“We have implicit confidence in Obi Oputa III in his ability to take Aboh to greater heights; we are also praying that his reign will usher in a more peaceful and prosperous Aboh Kingdom for us to take our pride of place once again as a revered Kingdom in the world.

“For the few persons who are not residing in Aboh but are committed to sending out messages that there is crisis in Aboh over the Kingship, we advise that you should make efforts to visit home and see the joy on the faces of our people, and also, enjoy the peace that now pervades Aboh Kingdom.

“We also advise those few individuals, their cronies, media houses, including social media influencers, to stop all forms of actions that will cause disaffection in the Kingdom or project our King negatively before the world.

“From now on, legal processes would be instituted against any individual, or organisation that misinforms the public or casts aspersions on our revered Imperial Majesty, Obi Oputa III.

It will be recalled that Dr Olise Imegwu led a protest to Asaba, Delta state capital, denouncing what he described as the imposition of the new king on Aboh indigenes.

Imegwu said due process was not observed in the crowning of the new monarch and challenged the new king to show the world the video of his crowning and who performed the ceremony.