“Edo State Police Under Scrutiny After Lawyer’s Claim Of Wrongful Detention In Domestic Dispute Case”
By Passman Akpos
A legal practitioner, identified as Prince Madojemu (PEM), has narrated what he described as a troubling experience involving the handling of a matrimonial petition at the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Gender Affairs Unit, raising fresh questions about the treatment of marital disputes within the police system.
According to his account, his client—an 11-year-married man—was invited by the police over allegations arising from a domestic dispute. The lawyer said he advised his client to honour the invitation, noting that no physical violence had occurred between the couple, but only what he described as “normal marital disagreements.”
He further explained that he accompanied the client to the station after a court sitting, expecting a routine interview process.
However, upon arrival at the Gender Affairs Unit, the situation reportedly became tense.
“The moment the Investigating Police Officer saw that my client came with counsel, her demeanor changed. She questioned why a lawyer was involved in the matter,” he recounted.
The lawyer alleged that he was initially denied access to read the petition presented against his client until a brief confrontation led to intervention from the legal department, after which he was eventually allowed to review it.
He further claimed that the interaction with the officer in charge reflected what he described as “a scripted and biased approach,” suggesting external influence in the handling of the case.
According to him, while the process was still ongoing, his client was unexpectedly detained.“I had gone out briefly for brunch when I received a call that my client had been detained. I immediately lost my appetite and rushed back to the station,” he said.
He stated that efforts to secure bail were unsuccessful, with police officials allegedly citing directives from a senior officer, although he claimed the Commissioner of Police was not physically present at the time.
The allegation at the centre of the case, according to the lawyer, is that the wife claimed her husband assaulted her three months earlier, supporting her complaint with a photograph allegedly showing a head injury. However, the husband reportedly denied ever physically assaulting his wife, insisting that she had left their home voluntarily on the day in question.
He further stated that tensions escalated after the woman’s family allegedly sent a message accusing the husband of threatening her life, a claim he says contributed to his client’s refusal to continue communication.
Following the detention, the lawyer said he attempted unsuccessfully to reach the Edo State Commissioner of Police, noting that calls were not answered and a text message remained unacknowledged.
He expressed concern over what he described as the criminalization of marital disputes and the detention of suspects in what he considers bailable offences.
“It is my considered view that matrimonial issues should, as much as possible, be handled with a conciliatory approach. Detaining a man in an 11-year-old marriage under such circumstances is not only excessive but undermines the possibility of peaceful coexistence,” he stated.
He has since insisted that the matter be charged to court, arguing that only a competent court has the constitutional authority to determine guilt or innocence.
As at the time of filing this report, the police authorities had yet to publicly respond to the allegations.
