July 18, (THEWILL) – The Lagos State Police Command has accused veteran movie maker, Ola Balogun, of raising a false alarm over the presence of policemen at his Ketu residence on Tuesday.
The movie maker had spoken to one of his associates, Owei Lakemfa, that there was a heavy presence of police at his residence at about 8:40am.
He claimed that his life was in danger. While they were having the conversation, Balogun’s phone went off.
Lakemfa had to raise an alarm also and asked Nigerians to check on Balogun to ascertain if all was well with him.
He also called on lawyers to ask the police why they invaded the house of a 78-year-old man.
“This morning, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at about 8:40am, I received an SOS call from pioneer film-maker, cultural Ambassador, musician and author, Dr Ola Balogun, that the police have surrounded his home and he is in fear for his life,” Lakemfa said in the statement.
“He was trying to explain his situation when his phone went off. Dr Balogun, who lives at No 5B, Salvation Close, Olorunda, Ketu, Lagos, is alone and needs his fellow Nigerians to check on him, at least to know where he is being taken.
“I also urge lawyers in Lagos to enquire from the Lagos State Police Command why armed policemen were drafted to the elderly citizen’s home,” Lakemfa added.
While reacting to the development, Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Spokesperson, revealed that the filmmaker raised a false alarm that his residence was surrounded by the police.
He explained that Balogun’s neighbour had made a complaint against him.
Balogun was accused by a fellow estate resident that he broke his neighbour’s car windscreen. And he (accuser) went to the station to report.
The police invited Balogun to hear his side of the story and the filmmaker obliged their invitation but denied breaking the accuser’s vehicle.
Hundeyin further stated that the police informed Balogun that they would come to the estate to watch the CCTV footage the next day (Tuesday).
On getting to the estate, two police officers went to his residence to inform and call him to come along to watch the CCTV footage. Immediately he saw the two policemen, he raised an alarm that his house was under siege.
Hundeyin further said that the filmmaker refused to step out of his house and follow the police officers. He said that the estate also refused to grant the police access to the footage, adding that they were asked to write a letter requesting access to the CCTV.
About the Author
