Although there is nothing new in the news that CP Fatai Owoseni is no longer the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, yet it came like a surprise to me. There is nothing that is constant in life, but good people are often missed, especially when they had made an indelible mark in their assignments or duties. I had no personal relationship with CP Owoseni but in the course of his official duties I had the privilege of meetings when I represented a client on the issue of Alaba Rago market being the general counsel to Caretaker Committee of Alaba Rago Market headed by Alh. Ibrahim Malami Ali.
The meetings were prevailed by truthfulness on the part of the CP Fatai Owoseni. He maintained his position that parties should ensure peace in the name of Allah and his readiness to do justice in the interest of security of lives and property of Lagosians. This is apart from his great efforts in policing Lagos despite increasing crime rate from criminal species perpetrating crime in every nook and cranny in Lagos State. His handling of issues according to the law and constitution is mind-blowing. Nobody is perfect, but people have to be encouraged in continuing being diligent and fair in their duties. Police as one of the law enforcement agencies must be conscious of fundamental human rights of the suspects particularly as guaranteed by Section 33 to 36 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
To sum it up, i will say that i have no alternative than to wish CP Fatai Owoseni well and employ the new Commissioner to discharge his duties within the confines of the law. I wish CP Fatai Owoseni good luck on his new duty or course in police affairs. He had fought a good fight for another Commissioner of Police to continue. Also, using this salah period to wish him and his family, a Happy Eid-El Kabir!
Olumide Akindiya is a lawyer, poet, legal writer and principal, Olumide Akindiya & Co. Legal Practitioners based in Lagos.