IGP orders prosecution of Late MKO Abiola’s wife, who assaulted police woman

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has strongly condemned the assault of a female Police Officer, Inspector Teju Moses, by her principal, inflicting bodily harm on her.

Inspector Moses was allegedly brutalised on the order of Professor Zainab Duke Abiola, said to be a widow of Chief MKO Abiola, acclaimed winner of Nigeria’s June 12, 1993 presidential election but did not live to take up his mandate.

Abiola’s election was nullified by the military government of Ibrahim Babangida, under whose regime the June 12, 1993 election held. He was, however, arrested by the military government of Late Gen Sani Abacha, while campaigning to reclaim his mandate. He was detained on allegation of treason and eventually died on July 7, 1998.

Prof Abiola, a Legal practitioner and who claims to be a human rights activist, has been arrested by the police along with her house maid, one Rebecca Enechido. Another domestic staff, a male suspect, is said to be currently at large.

READ: Abiola’s children detained by SARS over robbery sue Police Commissioner

The incident, video of which has gone viral on the Internet, happened on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at her residence in Garki, Abuja. The female police orderly was said to have refused to breach professional ethics by carrying out menial and domestic chores at Abiola’s house, according to a statement issued Thursday by the police spokesman, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

Part of the statement reads: “The IGP has directed the express prosecution of the arrested suspects who are currently in Police custody, as the preliminary investigation shows overwhelming evidence of culpability on the part of the Professor and her domestic staff. The IGP has equally tasked the investigative team to ensure that the fleeing suspect is arrested and made to face the wrath of the law.

“It is pertinent to clarify that the suspect, Prof. Zainab, who name-drops the IGP, his family members, and other officers in the top hierarchy of the Force has no acquaintance with the Police in any form as erroneously peddled on social media.

“The Inspector-General of Police who similarly ordered the withdrawal of all Police personnel attached to the Professor, expressed consternation at the fact that an individual who claims to be an advocate for Human Rights could stoop so low to violate the rights of another individual, a police officer tasked with ensuring her protection.”