By: Adeboye Philip

A resident of Ondo town in Ondo State, Mrs. Funmi Afolabi has passionately appealed to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, over the whereabouts of her two children who were in the custody of police authority when she was remanded in Olokuta Correctional facility over a murder case in Akure.

The missing children, Segun Afolabi and Blessing Afolabi were allegedly taken into custody when she was arrested by the Police on 13th November, 2010 and charged to court over an alleged murder.

Mrs. Afolabi was arrested alongside her husband, Mr. Afolabi Oladipupo and six others who were subsequently remanded.

According to the woman, a team of policemen from Abuja had pleaded with them to release their children, with the assurance that they would be handed over to a charity home for proper care pending the determination of their case in the court.

Continuing, she said the policemen told her that the children would be released if they are acquitted or if either one of them (the couples) is free from the alleged murder case.

But unfortunately, ever since Mrs Funmi Afolabi regained her freedom on the 21st November, 2019, she has been in search of the children.

The beleaguered woman who attempted suicide at the court premises in Akure, was rescued by some judiciary staff over the continued refusal of the Nigeria Police Authority to release her children whom she said have been with them for the past 10 years when her case lasted.

Counsel to the couples, Mr. Wale Omotoso (SAN) while speaking with Journalists at the court premises in Akure, said several efforts made by him and some individuals to see that the children were released to the woman based on the promises made by the police authority in Abuja have proved abortive.

“Honestly, I don’t know what is wrong but I know, something is actually wrong somewhere. All efforts made to rejoin the two children with their mother out of the perceived police authority Charity Home could not yield any positive results.

“This case is like beating a child and tell him or her not to cry. we will continue till the water that comes out from our eyes will turn to flood in the police compound, unless the Nigeria Police Authority do the needful by give Caesar what belong to Caesar. (that is giving this traumatised woman her children)

“Let me once again commend Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba for the good work he is doing and the credible leadership he has been offered our nation since assumption of office. We are passionately pleading with him to use his good offices to help us find the whereabouts of these children who have been with the police authority for the past 10 years. I know justice will be done on this matter”, Omotoso pleaded.

However, the woman, Mrs Funmi Afolabi who also spoke with newsmen solicited for the help of the public to ensure that her children are released to her, if not, she said “I am ready to commit suicide, if I don’t see my children.”

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Funmilayo Odunlami, said she was not aware of the case but advised that the woman to pursue the case using court action to reclaim her children.