International Federation of Female Lawyers, FIDA, Rivers State Branch, has described the verbal and physical assaulted of her member, by the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, in Charge of Akpajo Police Station, Mr Emmanuel Ifeanyi, as slanderous and a violation of their right to personal dignity, Africa Update reports.
A statement jointly signed by the FIDA chairperson, Adata Bio-Briggs and Publicity Secretary, Sophia I. J. Afolayan, reads: FIDA NIGERIA, RIVERS STATE BRANCH strongly condemns the cruel and inhumane treatment meted out on her member and a child protection Officer who accompanied a complainant to Akpajo Police Station in respect of a new born baby who was found abandoned in a church at Akpajo, Eleme.
The Complainant found the abandoned baby in her church and reported to officers at the Akpajo Police Stattion who later took the Baby to one Goodness and Mercy Orphanage home in Eliminigwe Estate. The Complainant insisted that the baby should be sent to the Port-Harcourt children’s Home under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation but she was thrown out of the premises of the orphanage home and the baby handed over to the home.
The Complainant immediately called FIDA and a call was put across to the DPO of the Station on the need for the baby to be handed over to Ministry of social welfare and Rehabilitation.
The DPO requested the presence of FIDA and officers from Social Welfare so the baby can be handed over to the appropriate authority.
On getting to the Station with the child Protection officer and the complainant the DPO , Mr Emmanuel Ifeanyi, verbally and physically assaulted our member, and seized her phone and that of the Social Welfare officer and the complainant. He detained them in his station for more than 4 hours and also threatened to deal with them.
FIDA Rivers views the act of Mr Emmanuel Ifeanyi as slanderous and a violation of their right to personal dignity.
We commend the prompt intervention of the Commissioner of Police and urge him to ensure that Justice is done in this matter and for the future protection of our members in course of our service to humanity.”
