A UK businessman is accusing the Ondo police of frustrating the investigation into the robbery attack

A United Kingdom-based businessman, Blessing Akinlemimu, has alleged that the Ondo State Police Command and the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Zone 17, are planning to thwart an ongoing investigation into an attack on him by thugs.

According to Akinlemimu, he was attacked on November 12 in Idanre, headquarters of Idanre Local Council Area of ​​the state, by robbers who shot him in the stomach.

Although he stated that the incident happened weeks before the governorship election, he disclosed that the case was reported to the police station but no investigation was conducted by the police.

In a statement issued by Akinlemimu’s lawyer, John Olowookere, the victim said both the offices of the state commissioner of police and the AIG would have handled the case with kid gloves as none of the attackers have since been arrested.

The businessman, who claimed that the petition written at the AIG office was allegedly suppressed and unattended, pointed out through his lawyer that “our client (Binecuvântarea) was in a restaurant in Idanre, his hometown, together with some of his friends. and the two police officers who were officially assigned to him for his security protection when suddenly some armed men (some were masked) invaded the place and attacked our client with gunshots; his friends were seriously injured, while the police were practically helpless under the circumstances, the attack being sudden and calculated to eliminate our client.

“That after the shot our client received on his stomach from the assailants, our client was rushed to the University of Medical Sciences Specialist Hospital, Akure, Ondo State, where he received medical treatment and was admitted to hospital. hospital before being moved by his family to another hospital in Akure for intensive care to save his life.

“It is further informed that the ugly incident of assault was first reported to the Alade Police Station and later to the Idanre Divisional Police Station but the same was handled with kid gloves by both the stations which led the client our to call on the services of a legal. practitioner to formally petition the AIG for a discreet police investigation. The lawyer wrote the petition dated November 14, 2024, and the same was approved for the necessary research.

“However, much to our client’s chagrin and dismay, the inquiry into the aforesaid petition was deliberately suppressed by the police at the office of the AIG without giving any valid reason why the incident was not investigated even when when the petition had been approved for discreet police investigation. This unhealthy and sad development of the investigation has frustrated our client, who has returned to his UK base against his original intention to remain in the country for a period.”

The legal practitioner called on the government and other stakeholders to help his client get justice, claiming that the alleged perpetrators are still moving around the city untouched.

When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, denied the allegation, saying the command was properly handling the case when the complainant said he wanted the AIG to handle it.

“The investigation was ongoing when he (Blessing) said he wanted his case handled by Area 17 (AIG), not that the case was not properly handled.”

Also, the Zone 17 Public Relations Officer, Akeem Adeola, said he was not aware of the petition by the complainant, stressing that “It is not possible for the zone to receive the petition and not act on it; I’ll find out when I get to the office.”