Abiodun Thomas, the rights activist who has been in police custody for seven days, slumped on Thursday shortly after the Abuja police took her statement.

EQ learnt that the detained activist, held at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), collapsed because the police denied her medical care despite having previously complained of bleeding, asthma and ulcer. They also refused her access to relatives.

Ernest Okpaga, one of Thomas’ lawyers had accompanied her to write a statement at the Nigeria Police Force-National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) on Thursday, the first time since her arrest.

READ MORE: Lawyers Sue IGP, Police for N100m Over Olamide Thomas’ Abduction, Rights Violation

A source told EQ that the lawyer was exiting the gate of the police building when some policemen called out his name. He was told that the lady collapsed shortly after making her statement.

EQ gathered that when Okpaga asked the police to take Thomas to hospital for emergency medical attention, the assistant administrative director at the NPF-NCCC ordered policemen to lock up the lawyer together with the detained activist in the interrogation room until she regained consciousness.

“He attempted to resist them from dragging him to be locked up as ordered, and he was assaulted and beaten by the police officers. After his persistent resistance to being locked up at their facility, the assistant admin ordered that they should hurriedly take Abiodun Thomas along with the lawyer to the Police hospital,” the source said.

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The source revealed that the detainee was taken to the medical facility at Area 11 Garki Abuja, where she was on admission and receiving medical treatment at press time.

EQ earlier reported that her lawyers filed a fundamental rights lawsuit against the police force to challenge her unjust detention.

The suit cited violations of her rights to dignity, personal liberty and freedom of movement after officers abducted her from Lagos and moved her to Abuja.

The suit is scheduled to be heard on Friday morning at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

READ ALSO: Police Deny Rights Advocate Olamide Abiodun Thomas Bail, Say IGP Wants Her Detained

Since Thomas’ arrest, the police have issued no official statement on the reason for her arrest. There are claims that her detention is linked to her criticism of the police and the federal government.

EQ’s previous attempts to speak with the police both in Lagos and the headquarters have also been futile. Ben Hundeyin and Muyiwa Adejobi, the respective spokespersons, did not answer phone calls, return them or respond to messages.
The post Abiodun Thomas, Rights Activist Detained on IGP’s Orders, Faints in Police Custody appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.