CSO kicks as police begin trial of female officer detained in Lagos ‘over absence from duty’

The Lagos state police command says it has commenced the orderly room trial of Fauzziyah Isiak, a female officer, who was detained for allegedly absconding from duty.

Benjamin Hundeyin, Lagos police spokesperson, confirmed the orderly room trial of Isiak.

On Wednesday, the female police officer was detained for allegedly absconding from duty without official authorisation.

BACKGROUND

On Thursday, Isiak, in a series of tweets on her Twitter handle, narrated how she was detained at the Ikeja police command for resigning from the police force.

The officer, who worked at the administrative department of the police, said she has been trying to resign from the police since 2022 but her letters were not approved.

She said she was invited to the police station by her boss on Wednesday to meet with the deputy commissioner of police.

“My boss had called me to show up yesterday 24th of May to meet the deputy commissioner for an interview,” she wrote.

“I thought they were finally going to approve my resignation but the only words I heard was that I should be detained to be tried and dismissed.

“Due to the shock, I couldn’t say anything as the officer led me away. Later, I heard that I should have begged and cried but my lack of reaction worsened the matter.”

Speaking further about her experience in detention, she said she has not been able to change her sanitary pad since she was detained on Wednesday.

“I have not taken my clothes and shoes off since yesterday. I can’t even change my sanitary pad. My migraine is throbbing at full speed and my head is about to explode from exhaustion,” Isiak said.

“My mother has called and said that she has been advised to come and plead that I will continue working. I have been working for six years and I think it is fair to let someone go and aid them to leave if they do not want to stay anymore.”

‘SHE ABSCONDED FROM WORK FOR 21 DAYS’

Reacting to Isiak’s comment, Hundeyin, in a series of tweets, said she did not follow the laid down procedure while accusing her of absconding from duty.

The police spokesperson said the female officer tendered a resignation letter after absconding from work without permission.

“It is one thing to turn in your resignation. It is another thing for the application to be processed, upon which you receive your discharge certificate,” the police spokesperson wrote.

“Till you get the discharge certificate, you remain a serving member of the Force, bound by all extant rules and regulations of service.

“Corporal Fauzziyah Isiak, who serves in the office of the Imam of the command, without leave, permission or discharge from service, absconded from duty for over a month, in flagrant disregard for the conditions of service she willingly signed to.

“For this offence against discipline, she was detained yesterday for the commencement of her orderly room trial today.

“Secondly, she has maliciously brought the name of the Force into disrepute by distorting/misrepresenting facts — a discreditable conduct that amounts to another disciplinary offence.

“Her trial has commenced for absence from duty for 53 days and flouting of the NPF social media policy.”

CSO KICKS

However, the Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), in a statement on Friday, condemned the Lagos police command for detaining the police officer after she moved to resign.

CDWR asked Usman Baba, inspector-general of police, and Abiodun Alabi, Lagos police commissioner, to immediately release Isiak and issue her a discharge certificate.

“Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR) calls on the Lagos state commissioner of police and inspector general of police to free Fauzziyar Isiak from captivity and issue her discharge certificate without further delay,” the statement reads.

“We also demand that rank-and-file police officers be allowed to belong to a police union as a means to defend their democratic rights and better working conditions.

“We call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and pro-masses organisations to intervene in the ongoing attacks on the democratic rights of Fauzziyar Isiak so as to regain her freedom.”