Suspected Badoo kingpin, Alhaji Alaka Abayomi, has said he is ready to submit himself to the Nigeria Police Force for investigations .
Alaka , who had been declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command , however, said he would not appear before the state Commissioner of Police , Edgal Imohimi.
He alleged that investigations would be compromised if carried out under Imohimi’ s supervision , urging the Force headquarters in Abuja to take up the matter.
Alaka spoke to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday on the heels of the arrest of a herbalist, Fatai Adebayo, who allegedly administered oaths on Badoo members before they went on operations .
On Wednesday, the Lagos State Government also sealed off Alaka ’ s filling station and hotel on Ijebu -Ode -Itoikin Road , in the Sabo area of Ikorodu , saying the facilities violated the state’ s Urban and Regional Planning Law of 2010 .
Alaka , in a telephone interview with our correspondent, said he was not apprehended and challenged the police to come up with evidence against him . He was , however, evasive when asked where exactly he was .
The embattled businessman , who spoke in Yoruba , said , “ What evidence did the police have before calling me Badoo ( kingpin)? Did any suspect mention my name? What does sealing my property have to do with this case ? I applied and paid for the Certificate of Occupancy for the filling station five years ago , but I have not got it. I have evidence of payments .
“ Since the police declared me wanted , no policeman came to my house or office to invite me . The police have my number , but they did not call me on the telephone for invitation . I don’ t believe I am wanted because no invitation was sent to me . Since the police said they were looking for Badoo members , they have not arrested any prime suspect .
“ I want the government to intervene. I am ready to appear before the police or any investigative body, but not before the Lagos State Police Command and Edgal (Imohimi) . A team should be set up to investigate the matter, particularly from Abuja . He ( Edgal ) declared me a Badoo kingpin, but what evidence does he have ? About five security men guarding the filling station have been arrested .”
Alaka explained further that he had sued the police command and Imohimi at the Federal High Court , Ikoyi, for blackmail, but the respondents had yet to appeared before the court .
He alleged that the court had also delayed ruling on an injunction application filed by his lawyer, seeking that the police be restrained from arresting him ( Alaka ) pending the determination of the substantive suit – blackmail.
The 51 -year-old claimed that his issues with the police started when he declined to pay N10 m bribe an Investigating Police Officer reportedly demanded from him .
He said, “I can no longer walk freely around Ikorodu for fear of area boys administering jungle justice on me . I have read about the herbalist that was arrested . I don’t know him . Why didn’ t police allow him to talk to journalists ? The case should be transferred from the Lagos State Command ; they have dented my image. I sleep in my house in Magodo; no policeman came to arrest me .
“ I will not show up at the Lagos State Police Command for three reasons : one, they don’ t have evidence against me . I was arrested and released the following day without being told to write a statement .
“ Secondly, the CP has refused to appear in court . The case has been in court since August 2017 . For three adjourned dates , the court was said to be on vacation . During the last sitting, the judge adjourned till February 2018 for ruling on the injunction, which is very suspicious .
“ Thirdly, I will not surrender myself to the CP because he will compromise investigation. But I am ready to appear before the Inspector-General of Police and the National Assembly.
“ The genesis of this issue was when the IPO requested that I should pay N10 m to settle some police officers at the command . It was when I refused to pay the money that I was arrested . I have petitioned the National Assembly and the IG on this .”
When contacted for reactions to the allegations made by the suspect , the Lagos State Police Public Relations , SP Chike Oti , said he had no comment .
He said, “I have no comment to make because the case is under investigation. Everything concerning the subject is under investigation. The command won ’t bandy words with him . He is being wanted by the police and he should turn himself in. ”
Earlier on Wednesday, the Lagos State Government sealed off Alaka ’ s filling station , hotel and event centre .
The state government in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy , Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the outfits belonged to “ a suspected
Badoo cult kingpin, Alhaji Alaka Abayomi Kamal.”
The commissioner said the structures were sealed off for violating the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning Law of 2010 .
The statement read in part , “ The police , had on December 22 , 2017, declared Alaka wanted in connection with series of well-orchestrated killings and nefarious activities of the Badoo cult in the Ikorodu and Epe areas of the state .
“ Alaka is believed to be the ringleader of the Badoo menace .
“ The Lagos State Government is joining the Nigeria Police Force in asking Alaka to come out of hiding and submit himself to the law in his own interest.
“ The state government has also enjoined the police to offer the public a reward for any useful information on the owner of the Alaka Filling Station , hotel and the event centre in Ikorodu .”
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