Police Release Lagos Music Producer After Six-Day Illegal Detention, Demand Of N1million Bail
His release on Wednesday came after SaharaReporters exposed the police criminality at the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba, where Akhimie was detained from August 16 to 21 when he was finally released.
The Lagos State Police Command has released a music producer, Nathan Akhimie, who was held hostage for six days for offence committed by another after he could not pay N1million for bail.
His release on Wednesday came after SaharaReporters exposed the police criminality at the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba, where Akhimie was detained from August 16 to 21 when he was finally released.
Mr Paul Akhimie, Nathan’s father, told SaharaReporters on Thursday that his son had been released without paying any money after the SaharaReporters publication on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, SaharaReporters reported that police operatives at the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department in Panti, Yaba, led by Superintendent Samuel Akhigbe, were demanding a N1 million payment for the release of Nathan Akhimie on bail.
Akhimie has been detained since Friday, August 16, 2024, reportedly without committing any offence. However, his family has been unable to meet the demanded bail amount.
SaharaReporters learnt that the issue began when Nathan Akhimie, a music producer, visited his client John Davidson (aka Zhus) at his apartment with a young woman, Aminat Nancy Alabi.
Unknown to Akhimie, the woman allegedly stole Davidson’s mobile phone. Upon discovering the missing phone, Davidson demanded that the woman produce it.
However, Akhimie was unable to locate her, as she was merely an acquaintance. Subsequently, Akhimie and his boss, Mr. Kelly, reported the incident to the Ikota Police Station in Lekki.
While the Ikota Lekki police were working to trace and apprehend the young woman, Aminat Nancy Alabi, and freeze her account, John Davidson (aka Zhus) reported the incident to the State Criminal Investigation Department through his PA/Manager identified as Festus Idonuan Aigbologa, aka Briga, whose brother works there.
Using the information provided by Nathan Akhimie, who was being threatened by Zhus to produce the phone or face consequences, the police eventually arrested the young woman.
According to Mr. Kelly, Akhimie’s boss, who spoke to SaharaReporters, further investigation revealed that the stolen phone had changed hands twice, having been sold by the young woman to a buyer, who then sold it to another individual.
“We followed the police till all the people involved were arrested and phone recovered.
“The lady, Aminat Nancy Alabi, in her statement and also during interrogation stated that my employee (Nathan Akhimie) had no knowledge about her intention to steal the phone.
“She told the police emphatically that she also extorted my staff member of over N100,000 to bring the phone back but having sold the phone, after collecting the money, she switched off her phone until she was tracked and arrested.”
Mr Kelly told SaharaReporters that though Akhimie was not involved in the theft, on Friday, August 16, the police arrested him after raiding his house.
He said, “They said he must follow them to the station. I was with them and at the end of the day they detained him. I asked what offence are they detaining him for?
“One of the officers said that if he didn’t come with the girl to the client’s (Zhus) apartment, the phone wouldn’t have been stolen. They now said I should bring N1 million for his bail.
“I didn’t have that kind of money and even if I have, I didn’t see any crime he has committed. So since I couldn’t pay N1 million on Monday, I begged that they should collect N100,000. Then they said I should go and bring N500,000, so I had to involve his parents.
“All the people they saw in a hotel where they arrested the first buyer of the phone, they arrested them and collected N100,000 even though they were not connected to the matter.
“The sister of the person who bought the phone last paid almost N30,000 for bringing the phone to the station after the brother had been arrested.”
He added, “So it was a case of a stolen phone, and he was thereafter detained. The culprit has been caught and has absolved him of being a party to or having premeditated knowledge of her intent to steal, or participation in any form, in her written statement recorded at the police station.
“All other persons of interest – the receivers of the stolen have being apprehended as well.
“Yet, he is being detained on spurious grounds to pay N250,000 for his ‘bail’. This is unacceptable, it is criminality being perpetrated by uniformed men,” he told SaharaReporters.
However, the overjoyed father, commended SaharaReporters noting that shortly after the report was published the police officers started calling to come and take him.
“We thank God for SaharaReporters’ intervention and police complaints unit. Immediately the SaharaReporters published the report the officers started calling and calling. Eventually, on Wednesday evening they released him to his employer. As we speak he is back home now,” the overjoyed father stated.
Nathan’s employer, Mr Kelly confirmed his release to SaharaReporters on telephone on Thursday morning.
