Police Arrest, Detain 22-Year-Old Student In Ogun Over Mother's Debt, Deny Access To Family, Lawyer

Two armed officers in plain clothes, led by one ASP John Agbaji, stormed the Pipeline area of Akute, Ogun State, on Saturday, April 26, 2025, and arrested a 22-year-old student, Jeffrey Boniface, over a debt allegedly owed by his mother.

According to a source close to the family, the officers had initially surrounded the house of Mrs. Armstrong Angel Mayo, who was accused of defaulting on a business transaction. 

The case, which is currently under the jurisdiction of the Zone 2 Police Command, had reportedly frustrated the complainant, leading them to resort to extra-legal tactics by hiring officers to carry out an arrest.

“On Saturday, April 26, 2025, two armed police officers in plain clothes led by ASP John Agbaji arrested Jeffrey Boniface, a 22-year-old student, at Pipeline area of Akute, Ogun State. The officers had surrounded the house of Mrs. Armstrong Angel Mayo, who was accused of failing to repay money from a failed business transaction. This matter is currently being handled by Zone 2 Command. Apparently, the complainant grew impatient and hired these police officers to arrest Mrs. Mayo,” the source revealed.

Trouble reportedly started when Jeffrey Boniface, unaware of the situation, stepped out to buy a recharge card in the neighbourhood. 

The plain-clothes officers confronted him, but when he demanded to see an arrest warrant, things quickly turned violent.

“When the officers confronted Jeffrey Boniface, the son of Mrs Mayo who had come out to buy recharge card in his neighbourhood, he requested an arrest warrant, which angered the officers who immediately attacked him. Jeffrey resisted arrest on the grounds that the officers were in plain clothes and refused to identify themselves. 

“The police officers also denied Jeffrey’s request to inform his parents or relatives of his arrest. The officers eventually overpowered him and transported him to their station, where he was placed in a cell with suspected criminals,” the source said.

The ordeal did not end there. It was gathered that since his arrest, the student has been denied access to family members and legal counsel, a glaring violation of his fundamental rights.

“Since his detention, Jeffrey Boniface has been denied access to his family members and legal representation,” the family source added.

According to the source, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), ASP Agbaji, claimed Jeffrey was not being detained in place of his mother but for an undisclosed crime.

“We are convinced that Jeffrey Boniface, a 22-year-old student of Miva University, is currently being detained alongside criminal suspects in inhumane and degrading conditions for his mother's alleged actions. Since his arrest, Jeffrey has been denied access to his family or lawyer,” another family member stated.

It remains unclear why a civil dispute involving Mrs. Mayo, a case being handled by the Zone 2 Police Command, would escalate into the illegal detention of her son. 

Family sources insisted that at no point was the matter referred to the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) at Alagbon, a unit designated to handle only serious crimes.

“We understand that the FCID is an elite police investigation unit that primarily handles serious crimes. We were informed by the family that at no time was the civil case involving Mrs. Armstrong Angel Mayo, which is currently handled by Zone 2 Command, referred to the FCID Alagbon,” the source said.

Family members and rights advocates are now demanding the immediate release of Jeffrey Boniface and disciplinary measures against ASP John Agbaji for what they describe as "gross abuse of police powers."

“We therefore call for the immediate release of Jeffrey Boniface and disciplinary action against ASP John Agbaji,” the family concluded.

When contacted, ASP John Agbaji, informed SaharaReporters that the legal department is handling the case.

"You need to call the legal officers for a response; I will send you their number," Agbaji stated.

However, Agbaji did not provide the number at the time of reporting. He also did not answer follow-up calls and has not responded to text messages.