Lawyer: Police Cannot Declare Someone Wanted While Their Case Is In Court

Lawyer: Police Cannot Declare Someone Wanted While Their Case Is In Court

Pelumi Olajengbesi, a lawyer based in Abuja and representing Dorcas Adeyinka, a Lagos socialite based in the United Kingdom, has criticized the Nigeria Police Force for declaring his client wanted over what he termed as “baseless allegations……READ ALSO Popular Lawyer, Osa-Ogbegie Dumps APC

In a statement issued on Monday, Olajengbesi argued that since the matter regarding the allegations is already before a court of law, the police cannot declare someone wanted, especially when there is no risk of the individual fleeing.

He emphasized that Adeyinka is a law-abiding citizen who was recently honored with a chieftaincy title over the weekend.

Olajengbesi condemned what he described as a needless media trial initiated by the police, stating that such actions are becoming a trend among security agencies in Nigeria.

“While we acknowledge that this issue stemmed from an unfortunate social media dispute involving certain individuals, we are taken aback by the level of attention it has received from the Nigeria Police Force,” the statement read in part.

The lawyer clarified that Adeyinka has consistently cooperated with the police whenever she was invited, especially concerning the present allegations. He noted that she had sought police assistance after her private images were maliciously circulated online but was instead met with further harassment and attempts to silence her.

Olajengbesi highlighted previous instances where Adeyinka faced unfounded charges, which were later dismissed by the court due to lack of evidence. Despite this, she continues to face undue scrutiny and harassment from the police, he asserted.

Regarding the recent declaration of Adeyinka as wanted by the police, Olajengbesi questioned the necessity of such action, especially when her availability was evident. He suggested either a miscommunication within the police force or unauthorized access to official channels as potential reasons behind the statement.

In conclusion, Olajengbesi affirmed Adeyinka’s commitment to legal processes and stated that they have initiated contact with appropriate channels to arrange her compliance with the investigative process.

“In times like this, we believe the courts will ultimately uphold justice and fairness for all parties involved,” he concluded.

Recall that just last week, two social media users were summoned by the Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse Zone 6, for alleged criminal defamation of Adeyinka. They were ordered to appear before the court on June 4, 2024, to answer the charges leveled against them.