BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
An operative of the Department of State Service, Osun State Command, David Olowoporoku, has denied the allegation that he beat a Police Sergeant named Rauf Fawale to a pulp thereby causing his death.
Olowoporoku, while giving evidence to a Coroner investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the policeman in January, 2021 at Riverside Lounge and Bar, Osogbo, explained that he neither knew Fawale nor assaulted him.
He said that he visited the bar to relax and that in the midnight of January 14, he was hearing some people engaged in hot altercations at the premises of the bar.
He stated that as he was about to leave the bar, another commotion ensued.
The DSS operative said that he went into hiding when some people that were causing commotion started throwing bottles and other dangerous weapons, adding that as he was trying to call the DSS Command to notify it of the development, a female police officer, Inspector Medinat Badmus, approached him and accused him of killing Fawale who was already lying on the ground unconsciously.
Olowoporoku claimed that Badmus brought some hoodlums who attacked and bundled him into a vehicle and drove him to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo alongside Fawale.
He claimed that after the victim was hospitalized, he identified himself as a DSS operative and one of his superior officers was phoned to come and identify him. He added that he was coerced into paying the sum of N30, 500 for Fawale’s treatment.
He further disclosed that the DSS, Osun Command locked him up in a cell for three weeks to investigate his culpability in the incident.
“When I was asked if I was responsible for what happened to the deceased, I denied it immediately and said that I only came to the place (Riverside Bar) to relax and release office stress. The owner of the Riverside (Bar) said that I had to pay the hospital bills. I refused (saying) that I couldn’t pay but they insisted that I must pay”
Olowoporoku said that he was not sure of the particular reason why his office investigated him, adding that he would prefer the coroner to consider his evidence rather than relying on a letter purportedly emanating from his office alleging that he, alongside two other DSS operatives, attacked the cop.
He said, “There was a commotion at the Riverside area and at the point of bringing out my phone to call the office desk and report to them, a lady (Badmus) said I killed someone. She was asking me who I was and I was confused. I also asked her who she was but she kept on saying I had hacked down someone.
“She was holding me when I wanted to identify myself and an unknown person picked up my phone for me. At that point, when she was hitting me, I started shouting so that passersby could hear me. She and her colleagues drove me to the hospital.
“When I was asked if I was responsible for what happened to the deceased, I denied it immediately and said that I only came to the place (Riverside Bar) to relax and release office stress. The owner of the Riverside (Bar) said that I had to pay the hospital bills. I refused (saying) that I couldn’t pay but they insisted that I must pay. I was getting tired because I had injuries on my body, so, I asked Mr. Femi (another DSS operative) to lend me the money or pay for me.
“After some minutes, Medinat brought my phone and asked me to make a transfer. I made a transfer of N30, 500 to one Mr. Tope Ogundeji.
“I reported the case of abduction and assault at my office and I said if the money I paid could be returned that I would be glad. I was then admitted and discharged. Afterwards, I was invited by my office (DSS) to write a statement. I was held in (the) facility for three weeks because they said the investigation was ongoing. I was subjected to an internal trial. After the trial, I got my phone and I discovered that my name was all over social media over this matter. I was traumatized.”
Chief Magistrate Olusegun Ayilara, who presided over the coroner, adjourned the matter till May 25 for further hearing.
