A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police to immediately take measures to prosecute 30 individuals who used police uniforms to harass traders at the Area 7 Shopping Complex in Garki, Abuja.
Machukwu-Ume in the letter dated April 28, 2023, said the dressing of the 30 persons and their action violates sections 484 and 251 of the Criminal Code and Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms Act.
The lawyer said the action of the alleged impersonators on April 4 occurred while there is a pending suit by the traders against Urban Shelter Limited over the demolition of parts of the shopping complex, marking of the walls and erection of structures in the park area of the complex.
Other parties joined in the suit are: the Minister of the FCT, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA); Abuja Markets Management Limited, Abuja Investment Company Limited, Urban Shelter Limited, the Inspector General of Police and Obinna Okolie.
The letter signed by Genevieve Okeke Esq on behalf of the SAN, reads: “It is therefore demanding your office to immediately take measures to prosecute the 30 persons impersonating your officers and those who aided them and to ensure that the officers of the traders association are no longer harassed.”
The lawyer also informed the IGP that the executives of the traders’ association led by Ahmed Suleiman, Michael Uwalaka, Adeleke Oluwatoyin, Rufelis Investment Ltd, Grace Bomima Benson had in March 2022 filed Form 48 contempt proceedings against Urban Shelter.
