The video that got the police working

It began with a seemingly innocent video of an aggrieved woman. Omolara James a nursing mother had felt cheated, belittled, even traumatised by someone she had no business with. So she got home and, did a video, appealing to help from fellow Nigerians. Many times, these videos don’t elicit the desired effect. We ‘oh’ and ‘ha’ and move on. The video is about a sexual assault she was subjected to by a certain man called Eddy Ebube aka Bebex in Mushin area of Lagos state. Omolara was slapped for not accepting the sexual advances of one thug in Ladipo spare parts market called Eddy Ebube aka Bebex. Bebex wanted to touch Omolara’s breasts. He first demanded to know what it’ll cost him to touch her breasts and when she refused, telling him she was a married woman, an altercation ensued. Bebex then showed Omolara that when money talks, she and her family ought to keep quiet. He commanded one of his goons to slap Omolara. In seconds, Omolara’s “poor” eyes saw stars from the slap delivered with precision. Thankfully a few passersby intervened but there was a scuffle, Omolara’s chain and phone were taken from her. This is Gangs of Lagos season 2. Omolara fumed and threatened police action. Bebex scoffed and informed Omolara and put it all down to money. Money he was ready to throw away and spite Omolara and the breasts she was making yanga with. Money he could spend on police to keep them quiet and well-behaved. Well, the story didn’t finish there. An angry Omolara had hoped that Police intervention would ensure Bebex apologises for his assault and everyone would go home happy. She went home and did a video she herself had no idea would travel far. Bebex got to know. He called his police friends. They got to know. They did what they often did. Harass the living daylights off innocent citizens.

They showed Omolara who was the boss. Bebex.

A few days later, a subdued Omolara did another video, recanting her earlier accusations. Nigerians watched, amazed at the woman Omolara had turned to. She was begging, telling us she made a mistake, she is seen trying to convince us she lied in the earlier video. We knew she had been shown the J in Soja-Soldier. The police, who knew where their bread was being buttered had obviously coerced Omolara into doing another video. They not only bullied her, they demanded a bribe of N5,000 from Omolara’s mother who had gone to plead for her daughter, a victim of assault. Thankfully, there’s a bigger boss, the Lagos Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Mr. Idowu Owohunwa. The Police boss had caught the gist and personally interrogated all parties concerned. He not only sought Omolara’s version, but he also got Bebex and his goons. He spoke to their lawyers, the community leaders in Mushin area, landlords, and …yeah the whole works. He determined Bebex, the horny thug for the breasts of breastfeeding women, had a case to answer in court. And yes, Bebex who apparently is a popular trader at the Mercedes Benz Line, at Ladipo market has appeared before a magistrate. He was faced with a three-count charge alongside his goon, Ali Musa, the slapper of the century. Though the two accused pleaded guilty, the Magistrate granted both bails in the sum of N100,000 each and a further hearing fixed for May 15, 2023… Chicken change you’ll say? Here’s the thing about these bails. The sureties required, and other bail conditions just floor you and so that is in summary why Bebex will be in detention until that date. Hopefully, it would have cured him of his thirst for breastmilk and as for Ali, his executioner, his hands should have thawed a bit from protecting his face from the resounding slaps he would receive in the cells…just saying.

Thank you Oga Commissioner

But this is not all there is to the story. The Commissioner was also reported to have fired the DPO in charge of the division where Omolara’s case was taken and all erring officers will face disciplinary actions if found guilty of professional misconduct. Speaking of professional misconduct, thank you once again, Oga police for firing former Corporal Opeyemi Kadiri. I can’t verify the date this happened but I’m guessing it is a recent occurrence going by how people are sharing. It’s the video of Officer Opeyemi Kadiri rough-handling a Nigerian man and searching his phone. Even as the man is heard saying, “The Inspector General of Police had said you should not search phones” Officer, well, actually, former officer Opeyemi Kadiri thought himself above the law. It looked like he destroyed the said phone. Thankfully, we should be thankful, I think, it’s the same law that disrobed him of the uniform he used to threaten a fellow Nigerian. Cool! Let’s hope the bad eggs among the police will be weeded out before they spoil the rest. Someone said, “The whole lot is rotten,” I still think we have a few good men there. photo credit video credit