By Ali Elias
When a even a DPO refuses to obey a court ruling, it is not just contempt — it is a complete breakdown of the rule of law. What remains for the Nigerian justice system if court orders are worthless even at that level? When law enforcers become lawbreakers, the system itself stands in ruins.
What should have been a routine car repair spiraled into a chilling encounter with the abuse of police power, as a Lagos Divisional Police Officer (DPO) allegedly defied a court order, detained two innocent mechanics, and threatened a lawyer who dared to demand justice.
The ordeal began for Ajana Olajide, a legal practitioner, when he handed his Ford Explorer to two trusted mechanics near his residence in Abijo GRA, Lagos. But by midnight, officers from Elemoro Police Division had arrested the mechanics, branding the vehicle a “suspected stolen car”—despite the owner’s swift intervention.
“I spoke directly with an officer, ASP Dare. I told him clearly, the car is mine. I gave it to them,” Olajide told Vanguard.
Instead of releasing the car and the mechanics, the Police dug in.
When Olajide arrived at the station the next morning to clarify matters, he was met with hostility and silence. Officers refused to assist or give contact details for follow-up. After being made to wait for hours without audience, Olajide’s attempt to assert his rights allegedly triggered a punitive response.
“I was shocked when I heard the DPO had ordered the two mechanics to be charged to court, after I had already identified myself as the car owner,” he said.
In what appears to be a deliberate deception, Olajide was misled about the court handling the case. He was directed to Epe Magistrate Court, while the matter was secretly filed at the Eti-Osa Magistrate Court, Badore. With his legal knowledge and a few urgent phone calls, Olajide located the right courtroom just in time.
“If I had gotten there five minutes later, they might have been remanded,” he told Vanguard.
Shocking charges
The charges against the mechanics were that they were in possession of a vehicle “reasonably suspected to be stolen”—despite Olajide presenting proof of ownership and confirming he had authorized them to use it.
Fortunately, Magistrate Kikelomo Olaiya Doja-Ojo, after reviewing Olajide’s evidence, including his NBA seal and Supreme Court enrollment number, dismissed the case and released the men.
But the ordeal was far from over.
Olajide’s car remained in police custody for another 22 days, despite the court’s ruling. When he returned to retrieve it, he faced more aggression.
“The DPO was furious. He threatened to arrest me too. He said I had embarrassed them in court,” Olajide said. “I had to walk away to avoid things getting worse.”
It took multiple court sessions and a formal enforcement order before the vehicle was finally released. Even then, Olajide claims the DPO hurled insults at him and threatened to flog him in public.
“I’ve never felt more powerless, and I’m not powerless,” Olajide recounted. “What about all the people who go through this and don’t have the training, the law on their side, or even someone to call?”
A systemic problem
This incident, though resolved in court, reflects a deeper, systemic problem: the unchecked abuse of power by those in uniform.
Olajide is now calling for an independent investigation into the actions of the Elemoro Police Division, warning that this is not just about one incident—it is about a pattern of impunity.
“I’m using my voice not because I want sympathy. But because this is happening every day in this country, and too many people have no one to speak for them,” he said. “Power in the wrong hands is dangerous. We must do better. The police must do better.”
Vanguard Newspaper, which first published the story, reports that efforts to obtain a response from the Lagos State Police Command were unsuccessful. Police spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin acknowledged an inquiry but did not respond to follow-up messages.
This case, while thankfully ending with justice, leaves a haunting question:
How many more Nigerians are locked behind bars today simply because they couldn’t defend themselves against power misused?