Three weeks after an Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Alagbe Olumide, confessed to falsely arraigning an innocent man, Ayodimeji Alegbeleye, 29, for murder charges, Olumide has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.

Olumide, who is currently in detention at the State Criminal Investigative Department, Yaba, was arrested on July 30, 2013.

Also, Alegbeleye, who allegedly regained his freedom after his case was struck out in court, was said to have been rearrested by the police detectives from the SCID.

Olumide had in PUNCH METRO July 5, 2013 publication, told an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court how he was forced to arraign Alegbeleye for the murder of James Igbahan in January 2013.

Olumide reportedly made this confession after Alegbeleye pleaded not guilty to the two counts and had protested his arraignment. The magistrate, Mrs. M.O Tanimola, reportedly summoned Olumide to give an account of what had transpired.

In his report to the court, Olumide had told the court that he was under pressure to arraign the accused, even though the investigation had shown that Alegbeleye was only a friend to the real suspect.

He had said, “My Lord, it was his friend that stabbed the deceased. The real offender is now at large. Alegbeleye was arraigned because we found him at the scene of the crime. The younger brother of the suspect had earlier been arrested, but the Ajah Police Division released him.”

When Tanimola further queried why the defendant was charged when he was not the suspect, Olumide had replied, “The police authorities said I should charge him with murder. I told them that my investigation showed he was not part of it, but they insisted that I should charge him.”

PUNCH Metro investigation showed that the state police command had commenced an orderly room trial for Olumide.

Sources who requested anonymity, told PUNCH Metro that Olumide was arrested for confessing to arraigning an innocent man.

The source said, “Olumide was arrested because he told the court that he arraigned Alegbeleye, who was a friend of the suspect because he was told by the police authorities to do so.

“Even Alegbeleye who regained his freedom after the case was struck out in court, has been re-arrested. Both men are at the SCID. An orderly room trial has already commenced for Olumide.”

The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Umar Manko, when contacted, said, “An internal investigation is going on respect of that case.”




http://www.punchng.com/metro/innocent-man-police-arrest-ipo-for-false-arraignment/