An Investigating Police Officer (IPO) attached to the Isheri-Oshun Division of the Lagos State Police Command, has been detained for allegedly tampering with a case file and a medical report in a sexual assault case.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Zone 2 Police Command, Adegoke Fayoade, who confirmed the development during a press conference on Tuesday, said the IPO allegedly altered key documents related to a case involving the sexual assault of teenage students by a hotelier in the Isheri-Oshun area.
Giving a background to the case, Fayoade disclosed that the sexual assault case was reported at the station and the officer was assigned the case.
The AIG said upon receipt of the case, the hotel owner was arrested and detained by operatives from the zonal command for allegedly engaging in anal sex with teenage students at his hotel.
Fayoade said the hotelier had reportedly threatened the students, warning them that they would die if they ever revealed what had happened but the situation came to light after one of the victims, a 16-year-old boy, confided in his parents about the abuse.
“Following the suspect’s arrest, his lawyer claimed that they had previously reported the case to the same zonal command for investigation,” the AIG said.
He added that, however, when the case file was retrieved, it was discovered that it had been tampered with by the IPO.
He said the confessional statement from another teenager who suffered similar abuse which was also reported at the Isheri-Osun Division, along with medical reports from the Mirable Center at General Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos, had been altered and as a result, he ordered further investigations by detailing detectives from the Zonal Oracle Unit, led by CSP Uba, to visit the Isheri Osun Police Station.
“Upon arrival, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) responsible for the case admitted to removing certain statements from the file.
“He later produced the hidden statements, which included detailed accounts from a second victim, supported by documented evidence,” the AIG said, adding that other police officers from the Ejigbo division might be questioned regarding their alleged involvement during the raid on the hotel, which was conducted by detectives from the zonal command to arrest the suspect.
