Thread by @BukkyShonibare

From exam hall to police station!

A sex worker called police on my driver saying he looks like the man that robbed her at about 3am on 4th March. He's been locked up since Saturday night. The lady has refused to come to the station and stopped picking her calls. She claimed...

...the person used a knife to cut her while robbing her of her phone and bag. That she bit the person and also cut the person with the knife causing injury on him; and that was how she escaped. My driver's body has been checked, no scar of such. He's been weeping like a child.

My driver explained how tens of 'ashawos' gathered on him; and how once the screeming started, no one could hear his side until the police came.

I'm fagged out, sleepy, and hungry; but sitting here for some hours is nothing but more lessons about life, and us!

Still waiting...

Suffice to mention that the prostitute never reported to the police when she claimed she was robbed on 4th March. She also said the man that robbed her was taking her to his house in Lugbe on a night service agreement for N10,000. My driver doesn't live in Lugbe!

And, just thinking... so there are men that patronize prostitutes?

N10k a night?

I just left the station (10.05pm) since afternoon, but not with my driver. He's now been in the cell for 4 nights!

Police went to search his house today and nothing was found. They went with the prostitute, who came with another prostitute colleague of hers.

Drama ensued...

The prostitute claimed the house may not be his. The IPO went to neighbours who confirmed he's been living there with his younger brother for some time. IPO has been professional, I must say.

Now the prostitute claims the bouncer who negotiated the 'night deal' can identify him.

Surprisingly, police said because it's an armed robbery case, they would still need to investigate before releasing him. Hence, they'd visit the club tomorrow.

Note, however, that because the prostitutes work collaboratively with the bouncers, they work together to say it's him.

Then I raised the issue of his continuous detention. The DCO just snapped back, raising his voice, that fundamental rights doesn't work there o. The same DCO was literally helping the prostitute complete her sentence; but would carry a look of disbelief anytime my driver speaks.

He said Uber drivers are like that and that he watched a documentary on CNN today on sexual assault committed by Uber drivers in the US. To him, that means my driver may be guilty. He later came to me and asked that we should find a way to manage and settle with the prostitute.

All efforts to secure bail was blocked by the DCO.

When we left the DPO's office, the prostitutes were waiting at the reception. I offered to go drop them. Then DCO came and said he'd drop them.

Well, the DCO drove out of the station with the two prostitutes in his car tonight!

I have escalated the issue to a top-ranking police officer today, who has asked that I let him know when I'm going there tomorrow.

I'm back home from the station. I waited a long time.

Darlington was not released today. Day 5 in the cell.

The DPO is now leading the issue. He wasn't pleased the prostitutes didn't come today, and the DCO did not go to the club to interrogate the bouncers as agreed yesterday.

The DPO called the DCO who claimed he was unable to perform the agreed investigations today because he had to attend a meeting. (I wonder why the tasks were not delegated).

DPO then instructed the DCO to ask the prostitutes to come tomorrow with the bouncers, latest 12noon.

Give us this day, Lord!

The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

(Proverbs 21:1)

Dear friends,

I am pleased to inform you that Darlington is now out of the cell, after 5 nights in the cell.

We secured his bail at about 6pm today after which we went to another station to collect the car.

It's been rough, tough, & dramatic; but throught it all, I'M GRATEFUL!

In a dramatic twist of fate, the DCO somewhat turned against the prostitutes today; and was forming big uncle to my driver, advising him to be careful of prostitutes, and all.

But the IPO (Iliyasu Musa) and the DPO (Mr. Tunde Kabiru) were professional and balanced all through.

A twist in this experience is that a CSR project I was part of as a Consultant in 2017 renovated the cell that my driver was locked in, plus painting of the entire station, including the DPO's office. It was today that the DPO was informed, after he (DPO) informed us of the bail.

I got gist that one of the prostitutes was rude to an elderly woman that worked in the station. Arguments ensued and she was cursing and shouting. It escalated to a serious confrontation. She got some slaps afterwards.

The prostitute also didn't come with the bouncers. The police then said he cannot continue to keep my driver in the cell. Hence, the bail. We'd report back tomorrow.

My driver called his parents. His voice, and his smile was priceless. My joy was bounndless.

Darlington is free!

From the day he got to the cell, my driver started a praying routine in the cell (morning & night). Some inmates committed to him that they'd not return to their old ways when they get out. He said the Christian & Muslim inmates support themselves during their respective prayers.

Before we left, we reported to the DPO how the prostitute threatened my driver the day they went to search his house, that if the police cannot find anything to prosecute him, she'd use her 'workshop' to get it done, and would send boys against him since they now know his house.

On a lighter note: earlier in the day, the IPO saw someone that looked like my driver outside the station because of the beards. This was before my driver was released. The IPO then advised my driver to go cut his beard; that it makes all them "beard gang" look somewhat alike.😊

I am so GRATEFUL to everyone who reached out privately and on here. Thank you for all the advice, connections, moral support, prayers, suggestions, and all.

Thank you, Mr. @aleeygiwa for your empathy and support.

May you all find help when it matters most.

God bless you all.😊