Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola, a lawyer and human rights campaigner, has been detained by the police after she is accused of attacking an orderly in Abuja.
The orderly, Inspector Teju Moses, allegedly refused to perform housework, which led to the alleged attack, according to the police.
After a video clip went viral on Wednesday, Prof. Abiola and her housekeeper Rebecca Enechido were both taken into custody.
The cop can be seen in the footage sitting on the ground, bleeding, and requesting to be brought to the hospital for treatment.
In a statement released on Thursday, the force’s public relations officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the professor’s detention and stated that Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba had ordered that the accused be prosecuted.
The IGP strongly denounced the attack, the Force spokesperson noted, adding that police agents were pursuing a fleeing domestic servant who was involved in the assault.
“The IGP strongly condemned the grievous assault of a female Police Officer, Inspector Teju Moses, by her principal, a lawyer and human rights activist, Prof. Zainab Duke Abiola, and her domestic staff, which included the housekeeper, one Rebecca Enechido, and a male suspect who is still at large,” he said.
The orderly refused to violate professional ethics by performing menial and domestic tasks at Zainab Duke’s home on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, therefore the activist from Mbaise, Zainab Duke, attacked the orderly severely in the presence of some accomplices.
“The preliminary inquiry reveals strong proof of responsibility on the side of the Professor and her domestic workers, and the IGP has ordered the express prosecution of the apprehended suspects who are now in police custody.
The investigating team has also been given a mandate by the IGP to make sure that the fleeing suspect is apprehended and brought to justice. It is important to make clear that the suspect, Prof. Zainab, who mentions the IGP, his family, and other officials in the Force’s high hierarchy, has no acquaintance with the police in any capacity, contrary to what has been falsely propagated on social media.
The IGP has reportedly ordered that all police officers associated with the professor be removed, according to the Force spokesperson.
He also expressed dissatisfaction that someone who calls themselves a champion for human rights may infringe on another person’s rights.
