POLICE HANDLING OF DEBT CASE QUESTIONED AFTER STUDENT’S DEATH

Fresh findings into the death of 30-year-old Al-Amin Mohammed have raised questions about how the Oyo State Police Command handled a dispute that began over an ₦8,000 debt.

Mohammed, a polytechnic student and aluminium worker, was detained by the Sanyo Police Division following the dispute. He was later taken to court and remanded at the Agodi Custodial Centre while his bail conditions were being processed.

The police had previously denied that Mohammed was detained or prosecuted over the debt, saying he faced allegations involving assault and damage to property. However, a review of the charge sheet cited by Saturday PUNCH indicated that the ₦8,000 dispute appeared in one of the counts against him.

A retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Isiaka Ayole, who helped secure Mohammed’s release, said the case raised concerns about the distinction between investigating an alleged criminal offence and using criminal proceedings to recover a private debt.

The police have maintained that their actions were connected to alleged criminal conduct rather than the debt itself.

Mohammed died shortly after his release from custody. His family has questioned the events that preceded his death, while the circumstances surrounding the case continue to attract scrutiny.

The development has renewed calls for proper handling of disputes that involve both private debts and allegations of criminal conduct.