Five months after a 31-year-old lady, who was detained at the Onikan Police Station, Lagos, Idowu Akinwumi, was raped by the Divisional Police Officer, a Superintendent of Police, Adekunle Awe, news has filtered in that the policeman has been demoted and placed on suspension.
This revelation was made by a member of the panel constituted to investigate the rape allegation against Awe.
Awe is a Superintendent of Police, but with the demotion, he would plunge to the rank of an Assistant Superintendent of Police.
It will be recalled that Akinwunmi, alleged that the DPO instructed one of his men, simply identified as Inspector Ajiduwe, to bring her to his office for debriefing of the case that was brought against her.
Awe allegedly pounced on and raped her after Ajiduwe left the office.
Akinwunmi, who claimed she was arrested on April 15, 2014 at about 1am, further said that she was reported to the police by her boss, simply identified as Pelumi, who runs a local cafeteria at 11, Keffi Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
She reportedly said: “I was detained in the cell and at about 10pm.
“One Inspector Ajiduwe brought me out and took me to the DPO’s office, where he raped me in his office without protection.
“He threatened to send me to prison if I tell anyone.”
After the news broke, Awe was immediately removed as the DPO Onikan, while the Inspector General of Police, ordered that a panel be set up to investigate Akinwunmi’s allegations.
The investigation had been intense when the saga started, with the Police authority quickly setting up a panel and non-governmental organisations had elbowed and shoved one another, battling for which of them would stand beside Akinwunmi in the fourth battle.
But after a while, everyone seemed to forget about the case and went to bed.
But the victim, Akinwunmi did not forget, for she lost her job during the furore.
There was an understanding that the findings of the panel would be made public, but the police had determinedly kept a sealed lip.
It was however gathered that the Awe has been demoted by two ranks, although no official report announcement has been made.
A member of the panel said: “Nobody has forgotten about the matter.
“The accused policeman, Awe, has been demoted and is on suspension as we speak.”
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