Human Rights Group Accuses Lagos Police of Mishandling ‘Domestic Violence’ Cases, Calls on CP Olohundare Jimoh for Redress

Human Rights Group Accuses Lagos Police of Mishandling ‘Domestic Violence’ Cases, Calls on CP Olohundare Jimoh for Redress

By Onome Naomi

“To err is human, and to forgive is divine.” This saying is famously attributed to Alexander Pope in “An Essay on Criticism,” which encourages both self-compassion when we make mistakes and compassion towards others when they err. But in the case of ‘domestic violence,’ this is an act committed knowingly and must attract a reprimand to serve as a deterrent to others; it is not to be condoned in a society where law exists, and many such victims seek justice, especially after years of brutalization.

This report highlights concerns about the handling of domestic violence cases by some police divisions in Lagos, Nigeria. According to the president of Ambassadors of Peace and Enlightenment Foundation, Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, some divisional police officers and investigation police officers are not taking these cases seriously, often prioritizing bail bonds over thorough investigations and court proceedings. He specifically mentioned the Ejigbo Police Division, Isheri Police Division, and Zone D Command Mushin’s mishandlings of DV cases.

He said the idea of domestic violence cases being truncated by some IPOs and DPOs is a call for concern, especially as such cases should be charged to court with evidence to back up the victims’ claims. It is appalling that reports from different advocates show how little consideration some divisional police heads give to settling cases of DV; they would 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 further stated,

What justice will a survivor get if 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.

The human rights advocate intervenes in situations of domestic violence to mediate and then sends such cases to the police with detailed information to be addressed, but when decisions are being made, human rights are usually sidelined. Information has it that the police are usually more interested in the bail bond.

Specific cases include a tailor and her apprentice, where the apprentice was physically and mentally abused, and a woman battered by her husband. In both cases, the police allegedly allowed the parties to settle without thorough investigation or reprimand. The human rights group is calling on the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, to address these issues and ensure that domestic violence cases are handled properly.

In the case of a tailor and her apprentice, the apprentice was made to kneel on a busy street that commercial buses and other vehicles use as a passageway after several instances of physical and mental abuse by her boss. An advocate who saw the dire situation rescued the young lady and was haunted for doing so. He reported to the appropriate authority (the police) and had expected a thorough reprimand, only for the boss to be released after some hours on the account that the parties had settled. No thorough investigation or reprimand. Meanwhile, the tailor who bailed herself out had gone home to continue the torture and possible threat to the victim. As of now, no one knows if the victim had not suffered more in the hands of her oppressor, as there was no prompt follow-up. This is just one case amongst many that has been truncated rather than addressed.

Another woman who was battered by her husband was reported to the police in Isheri Police Division as well. The police once again sidelined the human rights advocate who reported the case and cornered the woman into settling with her husband despite the serious injuries she sustained; the woman was beaten for several hours before morning. The police instead told the woman to forgive her husband and didn’t insist on the abuser ensuring the medical bill incurred for treatment of her injuries was paid; moreover, she was treated poorly for not paying the bail bond. Meanwhile, her husband bailed himself out and boasted he knows many police officers and that she had just wasted her time reporting the beating simply because all the police need is his bail bond. This is the main reason why domestic violence continues.

Perpetrators are charged to carry on with their abusive actions; these abusers now feel confident that all they need to do is bail themselves out of the crime and continue with battering, hence no serious charges. This is due to laxity on the part of the police; 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 uses personal funds to run cases on humanitarian grounds to ensure justice is served, but it is unfortunate that after spending funds to get perpetrators to the police, it all ends in either an unfinished case or simply withdrawn sidelining advocates so as to truncate justice by ensuring the victim has no choice other than to settle with the perpetrator instead of leading the perpetrator to court for a proper and final redress.

These actions by IPOs and DPOs will 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. However, the Protection Against Domestic Violence Law (PADVL), which came into force on the 18th of May 2007, is to provide protection for anybody in a domestic relationship and also prevent domestic violence from happening where there is a threat of violence. To achieve this, the complainant should approach the court for justice and for a protection order against the respondent or any other charge according to the offense. Domestic violence is a serious offense, and the enforcer of the law must not be found inefficient to carry out such delicate duties.

Domestic violence cases are on the increase due to law enforcers’ handling issues; the more tenacity implored in cases such as this, the more reduced the occurrences. The human rights body is calling on CP Olohundare Jimoh, Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, to call the Isheri and Ejigbo Divisions to order over their handling of domestic violence cases.