By Mariam Abeeb
A coalition of over 40 civil society organizations has staged a peaceful protest in Abuja, calling on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to intervene in alleged police harassment of staff affiliated with the Olusco Group.
The protesters, led by coalition spokesperson Tunde John, said the demonstration followed a petition submitted by the Olusco Group, which accused officers from the IGP Monitoring Unit of continued intimidation and unlawful interference at various company sites in the Federal Capital Territory.
John stated that the harassment persisted despite a valid Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Olusco and the Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN), which grants Olusco legal control over the affected locations.
He further noted that a court order had been secured, restraining the police and any third parties from disrupting the company’s operations.
The coalition warned that failure to act swiftly could lead to unrest, urging authorities to step in before tensions escalate.
The group also alleged that CSP Lamin, reportedly serving under the IGP’s supervision, had led several of the operations. During one such incident, a staff member of the Olusco Group was allegedly shot.
“Relating to the harassment men of the police are doing on these sites, and so olusco group, wrote a petition to us, and there’s need for us to step in, in the interest of Nigerian police and in the interest of general public and in the interest of the petitioner, so that one will not be taking law into his hands.
“And these are the claims number one, an agreement. Between olusco group and PMAN an MOU was entered into between Olusco group and PMAN for them to take possession of this site that is located beside on the rock in Abuja here.
“And court processes were available, a court order has been gotten to restrain anybody, including the Nigerian police to stop the harassment of the staffs and the owner, on the occupier .”
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