For survivors of domestic violence in Lagos, the path to justice is often fraught with terror even when victims gather the courage to approach the institutions meant to protect them. A human rights organisation now alleges that their pleas are frequently met with a disheartening reality: the prioritization of bail bonds over thorough investigations and genuine justice OGUNTADE ISMAILA writes.
The Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation has issued a call on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh, urging immediate intervention into what they describe as the alarming mishandling of domestic violence and abuse cases by some Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Investigating Police Officers (IPOs) under his care.
Is justice system compromised?
Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, president of the Foundation, didn’t mince words when speaking to Journalists as he stressed that police officers must treat those cases with the gravity they demanded, especially given their devastating societal impact. His accusations specifically targets practices at the Ejigbo Police Division, Isheri Police Division and Zone D Command, Mushin, calling for urgent redress from the police leadership.
“The issue of domestic violence cases being truncated by some IPOs and DPOs is of serious concern, especially as such cases should be charged to court with evidence to back up the victims’ claims,” Comrade Iche asserted.
He painted a grim picture of how reports from different advocates show how little consideration some divisional police heads give to settling cases of domestic violence; but rather call parties and intimidate victims into submission or possible withdrawal of the case to cut short the activities of human rights rather than sue for justice.
Iche voiced a profound dismay, questioning, “What justice would a survivor gets if nit that her only hope is to see that the perpetrator is apprehended and charged according to the law? It is of great concern that in recent times, the police, who should shield the vulnerable, are susceptible to condoning crime (an abuser) rather than aiding a survivor in seeking justice.”
He further alleged that human rights groups, often vital in intervening and reporting detailed cases, are routinely sidelined with police officers appearing more interested in the bail bond.
When aid turns to abandonment
To underscore his claims, Comrade Iche recounted two harrowing cases that, he says, exemplify the alleged systemic failures:
In the case of one tailor and an apprentice, he said, “A young female apprentice suffered alleged physical and mental abuse at the hands of her tailor boss, culminating in the demeaning act of being made to kneel on a busy street. An advocate who witnessed the distressing scene, intervened and rescued the girl, subsequently reporting the incident to the police. However, the boss was reportedly released within hours, simply because the parties had supposedly ‘settled’ the matter.”
Iche lamented the absence of a thorough investigation or proper reprimand, voicing deep concern for the victim, who, without police follow-up, might have faced continued torture or threats from her released oppressor. This, he noted, is one case among many that has been truncated rather than addressed.
He also noted the case of a battered woman who presented an equally disturbing scenario. “A woman, severely beaten by her husband, sought help from Isheri Police Division. Here too, the police sidelined the human rights advocate who reported the incident. Instead, the injured woman was purportedly coerced into settling with her husband, despite sustaining serious injuries from hours of assault. The police allegedly did not insist on the abuser covering her medical bills, and she was reportedly treated poorly for not paying a bail bond. The husband boasted of his connections and allegedly reinforced his belief that he could evade proper charges by simply paying for his bail.”
The rippling effect
Comrade Iche warned that such actions by DPOs and IPOs effectively embolden perpetrators to be confident that they can evade serious legal consequences simply by paying their way out. He emphasized that, “This laxity on the part of the police means that even with glaring evidence, the aforementioned stations show more interest in the bail condition than in directing such cases to court.”
The human rights body, which often expends personal funds to pursue cases on humanitarian grounds, find their efforts tragically thwarted. Their aim to bring perpetrators to justice is often undermined, with cases ending as ‘unfinished’ or ‘withdrawn’, leaving victims with no recourse but to settle.
“These actions by IPOs and DPOs would rather make some persons stay silent if abused rather than report, for there is no justice accorded to domestic violence in the hands of some officers of the law,” Iche concluded.
He starkly linked the rising prevalence of domestic violence to the current way the police handle those critical issues, asserting that, “The more tenacity implored in cases such as this, the more reduced the occurrences.”
The Foundation’s fervent appeal to CP Jimoh now stands as a crucial test of the Lagos State Police Command’s commitment to protecting the vulnerable and upholding the rule of law in the face of alleged systemic failings.