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A man, Oyibe Michael, has lamented after some police officers allegedly demanded the sum of N100,000 to issue a report for him after an auto crash at the Car Park C area of Mowe, in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro on Monday, Oyibe said his car collided with a commercial bus while he was making a U-turn, which caused damage to it. Subsequently, the policemen arrived at the scene to take pictures and took the vehicle to the Mowe Divisional Police Station.
He said, “We were asked to write a statement and present our car documents, then I made photocopies of them as instructed, but the commercial driver was given preferential treatment despite his inability to present his vehicle documents.
“The owner of the commercial vehicle requested the sum of N100,000 for damages, which I declined because according to the officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, we laid a complaint to, the reparation fee is supposed to be shared equally between both parties involved since it is an accident.
“The policemen were on the side of the commercial driver even when my friend told them that the commercial driver drove under the influence of alcohol, but they shunned him.”
Oyibe informed our correspondent that he contacted the company he insured his car with the next day to come to his aid but one of the criteria laid was for him to present a police report, in which he applied for one immediately.
“One of the senior officers said the police report is N100,000. Then, I met two different officers who told me the same price and referred me to a female inspector to clear my doubt.
“The inspector said the report is N100,000 but if she wants to help me, the least she could collect is N50,000 . She is even the one that will write it and give the DPO to sign. Then, I requested to see the DPO myself, but she refused,” Oyibe said.
Oyibe further added, “My car has been in the custody of the police since October 13, and it cannot be released unless I repair the commercial bus.
“I cannot afford N100,000 to pay for the police report requested by the insurance company, so they can pay for the damages.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said a police report was an official requirement, and that it was usually paid for but the fee charged by the officers was strange to her.
“It is a recognised report given to members of the public by the police authenticating an incident. There is money for that.
“The price is what I am not aware of, the complainant should report to our office at Abeokuta”, Odutola said.
