The Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, Benjamin Hundeyin has denied reports doing the rounds, that Monalisa Osayi, arrested for assaulting a Federal Road Safety Corps official on December 7, 2024, is a police officer.
In a statement by the command on Thursday said that Osayi was arrested and prosecuted by the Ajah Division of the Lagos State Police Command for the assault.
Channels Television had reported the incident which occurred on December 7, 2024, during a routine patrol by the FRSC.
In a viral video, Osayi was seen kicking the road safety official identified as Habeeb Sayidi, while at the same time restricting him from deflating the tyres of her impounded vehicle.
Osayi was arrested on December 15, 2024, by the Unit Commander of the RS2.19 Lekki Unit Command.
She was initially released on bail by the Ajah Divisional Police Headquarters but was later detained due to the Unit Commander’s efforts.
On December 16, 2024, she was arraigned before Court 3 of the Eti-Osa Magistrate Court, where she pleaded not guilty to charges of assault and breach of public peace.
The court granted Osayi bail, including a N100,000 payment and two family-member sureties with valid tax clearances.
She was thereafter remanded in prison for failing to meet the conditions.
The case has been adjourned to January 8, 2025, for further proceedings.
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Police Command has said Osayi is not an officer of the NPF.
“Were she a police officer, internal disciplinary processes would have first been activated, resulting in her suspension or dismissal, before she could be arraigned in court,” Hundeyin clarified.
The command urged the public to disregard the false claims.
He also assured them that the synergy between the police and the FRSC remained robust and crucial in Lagos State’s security architecture.