By Rita Enemuru, Michael Chukwuebuka, Reporting
A professor and Human Rights activist, Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola and three of her domestic staff, have been arrested by the Nigeria Police for allegedly assaulting a female police officer.
Professor Zainab Duke Abiola
Prof. Zainab, an Mbaise-born activist, assaulted the officer, Inspector Teju Moses, for refusing to carry out some domestic chores at her residence in Garki, Abuja on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
The act, which was condemned by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, was contained in a statement issued by Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
Assaulted Inspector Teju Moses
Stonix News reports that the IGP has ordered full prosecution of the suspects, he, however, claimed that top officials of the force have no acquaintances with the suspect as being rumoured on social media.
Expressing shock on how a Human Rights defender could violate the rights of an individual, the IGP ordered the withdrawal of all police personnel attached to the professor.
“The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has strongly condemned the grievous assault of a female Police Officer, Inspector Teju Moses, by her principal who is a Legal practitioner and human rights activist, Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola and her domestic staff comprising the house maid, one Rebecca Enechido and a male suspect currently at large.
“Zainab Duke, an Mbaise-born activist, grievously assaulted her orderly in company of some accomplices on Tuesday 20th September, 2022 at her residence in Garki, Abuja, due to the refusal of the orderly to breach professional ethics by carrying out menial and domestic chores at her house.
“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,” the statement read.
