Senior police officer brutalizes man for scratching his jeep

A police officer has been accused of brutalizing a citizen, causing him brain damage.

A victim of police brutality, Akhanolu Smart, is battling for his life after a senior police officer attached to the Ire-Akari Estate Police Station at Isolo, Lagos State, DSP Adeola Timothy Falowo, assaulted him for daring to 'scratch a policeman's jeep' while riding in a 'common tricycle' commonly called Keke Napep.

The victim who is reported to have had his brain affected as a result of the attack by the officer, is now confined to a hospital bed while his relatives are running helter-skelter to raise funds for a surgery on his damaged brain.

According to PM News, the victim's life is in danger and his fate uncertain as doctors confirmed that the attack affected his brain which caused total break down of his nervous system, and might not be able to work properly again after it was discovered that he had internal bleeding which led to partial stroke that has paralyzed him.

According to the newspaper:

"Smart was returning home from work via the Cele Express to Egbe-Ikotun. He boarded tricycle (Keke Napep) but on getting to Jakande Estate, he decided to disembark from the Keke because of a traffic jam.

The police officer, Falowo came down from Jeep and held him, mistaking him for Keke rider. He accused him of scratching his Pathfinder Jeep but Smart’s attempt to explain that he was a passenger not the rider fell on deaf ears.

And before Smart could explain further, he began to beat him before he then hit his head with an unknown object. Some unknown persons also joined him in battering is victim.

After he was battered, Falowo bundled Smart into the boot of his jeep and took to Ejigbo Police Division where he was detained and made to pay N65,000 before he was released.

He was eventually released the next day after they discovered that he was inflicted with serious injuries and his health deteriorating.

He said he contacted his relation who took him to different hospitals where he was rejected because his case had gone worse. He was later taken to a specialist at Benin in Edo State.

He said it was at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH that it was discovered that he had internal bleeding which caused total break down of his nervous system. He said he has since spent over N600,000 and he is yet to recover."