A human rights group, Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI) has called for immediate release of a 38-year-old man, Mr Adetunji Muritala Raji who was arrested by men of Nigeria Police Force, Zone 5 Edo State.
SPANCI made this declaration via a petition signed by its President, Comrade Yemi Ezekiel Bello and made available to journalists on Thursday.
Bello in the petition addressed to the IGP described Raji’s detention by the police on the order of one Miss Alimi Adeyinka Nafisat as unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.
SPANCI in the statement maintained that Raji was arrested in Ogbomoso, Oyo State and moved to Zone 5 Edo State on Tuesday 18, November, 2025 and has not been released till now without any justification.
He used the opportunity to appeal to the IGP to set up an investigation panel to unravel the circumstances surrounding the matter.
He also advised the IGP to ensure release of the suspect immediately.
The petition reads “Urgent petition against an act of lack of jurisdiction, un-proffessional conduct, unlawful arrest and detention, police harassment and convertion of civil matter to criminal matter , violation of section 34, (1)(a)35, 36, of the CFRN 1999 As amended, section 37 and 32(2) police act 2020 and section 8(2) ACJA 2015. Perpetrated by some men of Nigeria Police Force Zone 5 Edo State state and one Miss Alimi Adeyinka Nafisat against Mr Adetunji Muritala Raji.
“We have the consent of Mr Adetunji Muritala Raji hereinafter refered to as our client to write this letter so that his rights might be protected by law. Our client told us and we verily believe his information to be true and correct as follows: That he is working as Manager in a farm in Ogbomoso owned by Alhaja Shukrah Shokoya an Ogbomoso indigene without any history of crime. That miss Alimi Adeyinka Nafisat engaged his service to buy some pieces of land and also get somebody for her to look after her cows and he did behind his boss Alhaja Shukurah Shokoya.
“That he bought the land and got a Fulani/Bororo man to help her look after her cows and called her to send her family member for inspection and one Mr Lukman was mentioned but the man was not serious about the monitoring until the fulani/Bororo man went away with the cow in the name of herding around for green pasture till now.
“That she insisted through Miss Aisha Ibrahim who she chose as intermediary to get Mr Adetunji’s uncompleted building as replacement or he should sell it and pay her money instead of the land and missing cows but Alhaja Shukurah Shokoya who is our client’s boss came in and said she would save the situation but our client should make legal agreement for her because they both did the transaction behind her and it has backfired.
“That to his surprise he was tracked to and arrested at Access bank apake ogbomoso and moved to owode area command and detained by one officer abdulkareem sanni with 08032779966 who claimed to be the IPO around 10am friday 14, 11, 2025 to Tuesday 18,11, 2025 claiming he was acting on a court order which Nigeria Police Force Zone 5 edo state claimed to have.
“That our client was moved to Zone 5 Edo State on Tuesday 18,11, 2025 and still there as Wednesday 19,11, 2025. That he has been coerced and will still be coerced to make implicating statement or undertaking in favor of Miss Nafisat who lives in london but information said will be around tomorrow to make her demand before any further actions be taken on our client.
“That the inspector general of police has warned the police against violating the fundamental rights of the citizens and assuming jurisdiction on civil matter of such nature. That the police is not a debt redeeming or money recovery agency but only for crime and to maintain law and other.
“Serious investigation on this matter and anyone found guilty be made to face the law. That our client be released immediately having stayed many days in such unlawful detention. That justice be done and seen done on the matter”.
