By: Omonigho Matthew
From: Udu
The Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Victor Otomewo has ordered the Divisional Police Officer in Ovwian Aladja to refund with immediate effect the money collected from one Mrs. Agada Caroline as bail.
The commissioner who responded to complaints from members of the public at the Human rights legal clinic organized by the Forum for Justice and Human Right Defence said it is not within the purview of the police to collect money from members of the public for bail.
This is sequel to the complaints lodged at the Forum by Mrs. Agada Caroline who admitted that though both Mrs. Akpedi Betty and Mrs. Tessy Jaja are her friends, but on the 13 August 2009, Mrs. Tessy Jaja collected the sum of one hundred thousand naira from Mrs. Akpedi Betty in her presence as witness with the agreement that Mrs. Tessy Jaja will pay ten thousand naira monthly as interest and to also refund the loan collected in the month of October, 2009. Thereafter, the signature of the borrower and that of the lender, including the signature of Mrs. Caroline was appended to that effect in a written statement.
Explaining further, Mrs. Caroline Agada, a teacher with Joan Academy Orhuwhorun said things had not been good with her friend, Mrs. Tessy Jaja which resulted in her inability to meet with the payment even though she has already paid the sum of N30,000.00 as interest. She said, Mrs. Akpedi Betty arrested her because the borrower, Mrs. Tessy Jaja has not been seen for sometime. In her words, “I was arrested to the police station at Ovwian and as I speak with you, they have collected over N7,000 from me”.
Having heard her complaint, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justtice, Chief Victor Otomewo ordered that the police should refund the money collected from her as bail or be ready to face the wrath of the law. He however mandated Barrister Oghenejabor Ikimi to detail a lawyer to Mrs Agada to that effect.
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