German Petitions IG over Alleged Illegal Detention by Edo Police

Adibe Emeyeonu

A German national, Toni Brunner, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IG), Muhammed Adamu, for his alleged illegal detention by men of the Edo State Police Command on the orders of Mr. Olanrewaju Adeleke of Peculiar Ultimate Concern Limited.

Adeleke of Peculiar Ultimate Concern is the main contractor working at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benincity in preparation for the National Sports Festival, while

Brunner’s Sports-Life Services, a Germany-based company is the subcontractor.

In the petition which was made available to journalists in Benin-city, counsel to Brunner, J. O. Ehianbhi and Associates, alleged that their client was contracted by Adeleke to fix the tracks at the stadium in preparation for the National Sports Festival at an agreed amount, which he diligently performed until he observed that the mixing of cement on the floor of the track is slowing the pace of work.

Brunner’s counsel said in the process, equipment for laying the tracks broke down and he has to seek replacement from Germany after all attempt to fix it failed.

He said it was on these bases that Brunner was invited by Adeleke to discuss the progress of the job and payment, and in the course of the discussion, there was a disagreement between his client and Adeleke which prompted Adeleke to order the police officer attached to him to arrest Brunner, whom he described as a fraudster.

According to him, “Our client was arrested and taken to the state CID on the allegation that he is a fraudster. He was humiliated by the police and locked up at there for a night and subjected to dehumanising condition. Our client is a hypertensive and diabetic patient.

“He was eventually released the next day and he informed the German Embassy of his ordeal in the hands of security personnel at the state CID in Benin-city.