TRANSCRIPT OF THURSDAY MEETING (APRIL 8, 2021) AT AREA K POLICE STATION, LAGOS, OVER SETTLEMENT ON ASSAULT CASE BROUGHT BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, 9JREPORTERS AGAINST ASONIBARE ADEOLA, M.D OF ADEJOKE HOSPITAL

By Bartholomew Madukwe-------

CRIME OFFICER:  I said let me hear from you to know how far you people have resolved the matter. If there is any contrary view, you tell us. Like I spoke to you yesterday (Wednesday), problem that occur you don’t know what would have happened because that day I found out that all of you were drunk. Me, I know it very well. All of you were drunk. Yes! I must be frank to all of you. “This man (IPO) am talking you are sleeping, in my office? 

IPO:  Shebi I dey hear now. 

CRIME OFFICER: “Go outside if you are sleeping. Don’t close eyes, wake up, close eyes (IPO). There is a problem, understand. But if there is no sin, there is no forgiveness. It is in the Bible. You fight and become very tight again in life, that is what I believe in life. So, my dear brother, let us forge ahead. Anyway, it is left for him. I no wan to talk now, you go say na me tell dem make dem leave the matter” 

BARTHOLOMEW [Complainant]: Thank you so much Crime Officer. You have actually spoken so well. You have spoken not as a police officer, you have spoken like a senior brother. Only a foolish one will not listen to senior one’s advice. “But, nevertheless, certain clauses have to be looked at. The truth is that before now, my very self and the man (Accused) you are looking at, we’ve been good friends. Sometimes, when I have issues, he is the one that will give me advice. What happened that day, if they should tell me it will come from him, to God Almighty, I will never believe it. I will swear with anything, but the deed has been done. “I have been assaulted. I have been embarrassed, insulted, I don’t know what adjective I will use to qualify it. Not even in a private, but in the public. And not just in the public, a journalist for that matter- the fourth realm of the estate. “He hit me before the IPO, I went down. He kicked me, I was still down. He placed his feet on my head, I was still down. I don’t know how we want to look at the clauses here. I have tried as much as I can and I asked myself some questions. I lost some things there. Sir, I can tell you my blog (www.9jreporters.com). As a blogger, I know how much I get from Google blogging. I have been kept away from blogging for four days as a result of this matter. Sir, the medical report I tendered to the IPO. I have not talked of my Spyglass that I use in doing more of my Investigative Journalism. 

CRIME OFFICER: Em, Bartholomew, you need to go straight to the point because many people are waiting outside and they want to see me. I want us to save time. 

BARTHOLOMEW [Complainant]: Sir, I have done what I need to do and have come with my terms of settlement (typed). 

CRIME OFFICER: [Reads out the terms of settlement to the accused] “Since Adejoke has mentioned, timelessly, that he has money and will use his money on this case, the sum of One million naira (N1m) shall be paid by him to me (Bartholomew Madukwe) for the blow he gave to my right eye, which stopped me from blogging since Saturday following inability to see well- hence no money came into my account from Google during the four days of this matter. For verification, check www.9jreporters.com”. 

“Number 2: That Adejoke shall sign an undertaken that further attack/assault on me again, either by him, his agents, supporters or privies, he shall be held responsible.” CRIME OFFICER: So if anybody attack you, na this man? Is that what you are saying oga? So if you are going on the road and vehicle hits you, na the man cause am? 

BARTHOLOMEW [Complainant] The word used there is attack. CRIME OFFICER: “So if you have any problem with someone else and the person push you or hit you, na the man cause am?” 

CRIME OFFICER: “Number 3: That Adejoke shall write a letter of apology to me, either in writing or typed.” CRIME OFFICER: “Now you requested for one million naira, so you dey get up to one million naira in four days? You be big man o!” 

ON EFFORTS TO REACH ME (COMPLAINANT) ON SUNDAY 

CRIME OFFICER: Before we released on Sunday, we called your line and it was not going. I told him (IPO) to go and look for you in your house. 

BARTHOLOMEW [Complainant]: Nobody came to my place. CRIME OFFICER: I know

{ HOSTILITY }

IPO: So I will be going to his house to go and look for him. Me, I will go to the house of a Complainant to look for him? 

CRIME OFFICER: So, if I give you an order you will not do it? IPO: I will do. But Complainant, I will be looking for him to come and do his case, ahaa. [Meanwhile, it was at 8pm of Saturday that the IPO gave me a police medical paper to go and treat myself at Badagry General Hospital. On Sunday, I was at the hospital and still reported to the IPO in the evening- direct from the hospital]. 

 CRIME OFFICER: No problem! Are you okay at all? Are you okay? [Crime Officer charges at the IPO] When you called him and his number was not going nko? No problem! 

IPO: He said the accused gave 70k to be released. 

CRIME OFFICER: Leave that 70k issue my friend. IPO: You go carry motor, you get money give for the motor? (He asked complainant) 

CRIME OFFICER: Did he say that he is the one that gave the money? [Crime Officer replies the IPO]. IPO: I thought he said …. (Crime Officer interjects) 

CRIME OFFICER: Are you okay at all? Are you ok? 

CRIME OFFICER: [Faces the accused] So my friend, you have to react. Look at what he said here- one million. {ACCUSED GETS UP, ROLLING HIS CAR KEY} 

ACCUSED: Thank you so much. My name is Asonibare Adeola, the M.D. of Adejoke Hospital. All what he wrote there, me I am less concerned because two days ago, the club we belong to- both of us, called us and we have said that we don’t have anything against eachother. I have not known the extent of him coming with one million naira- for what. I too, my business was affected because I have been coming to the police station. 

CRIME OFFICER: Okay! You have heard him, he said he cannot pay. He said all the things I demanded for, he cannot do. What do you want us to do? {He asked Complainant} 

CRIME OFFICER: Court is not sitting now o, they are on strike. (A lawyer confirms it) CRIME OFFICER: So what do you want us to do oga? 

BARTHOLOMEW (Complainant): I heard him very well. It is more interesting that he heated it the way he wants it to be heated. In a nutshell, I leave the decision for you to make. 

CRIME OFFICER: I cannot make decision o. You are the Complainant. Tell us what you want, since he said he cannot comply with this. 

BARTHOLOMEW (Complainant): It is a simple thing. If matters can’t be settled amicably the matter goes to court. 

CRIME OFFICER: Okay, no problem. Adejoke, (Accused) you have heard him abi? He said if matter cannot be settled it should go to court. Its okay! Whenever court starts to sit, I will invite all of you.

 *******END 

CRIME OFFICER: 08032168417 

IPO (ASP Chris): 08033609886 

COMPLAINANT: 08175389977 

ACCUSED: 08038091845