Social media influencer Papaya Ex has written an open letter to the Divisional Police Officer at Ajah Police Station, Femi Akinpeloye, after her account of a late night encounter with the police was publicly disputed.
She took to Instagram on Tuesday to share her experience and address the matter in a letter to the DPO.
In her post, she wrote:
“@nigeriapoliceforce, an officer beat me up right inside my car. He used his gun on me. Please, I’m at Ajah, y’all, I’m bleeding.”
According to her, the interaction began in the early hours of Friday, 20 February. She said she was at Ajah Police Station from about 1 a.m. until around 10:30 a.m. She said that despite being tired, shaken and confused, she cooperated when asked to write her statement.
In the letter, Papaya Ex said:
“Before you even arrived, the officer who first assaulted me came to meet me and said I shouldn’t be angry. When I was leaving around 10:30 a.m., he came back and said he didn’t know I was Papaya Ex or that I was popular. So how on earth did I claim to have boasted about being Papaya Ex or knowing their bosses?
“So if I wasn’t popular, would this have been buried completely? Later, my lawyer and I saw a tweet from the PPRO (that said I didn’t allow them to search my car / I know their bosses) when we were leaving the station around 10:30 a.m. Something that was never mentioned inside your office when you questioned us. When my lawyer asked you about it, you said the police had to write that to ‘cover themselves’ so the matter would die down. Cover themselves from what?”
Papaya Ex, who produced the movie Hours Before Dawn, also denied claims that she kidnapped police officers in her vehicle or that she injured herself to mislead the public.
She said:
“It was around 1 a.m. They were intoxicated. They demanded money I did not have. Because I couldn’t give them money, I was beaten. My papers are intact and up to date, but they assaulted me after! The officer snatched my phone, said it had fallen, and picked it up. I don’t know what they might have put on my phone because it was unlocked.
“Three men assaulted me. My driver was assaulted while driving. My personal assistant/sister was also assaulted. She’s very young, and I can’t imagine what she feels. I cannot sleep. All my body aches, the scenario won’t leave my head.”
She further alleged that the police have promised to keep postponing the case until it dies down and everyone forgets.
This comes after the Lagos police spokesperson ACP Benjamin Hundeyin said officers stopped her vehicle for a routine check before 2 a.m. and that those in her vehicle did not provide valid identification. The police statement quoted her as saying, “You cannot search my car. Don’t you know Papaya? Even your bosses know me.”
The police said the group was asked to proceed to the station and that an attempt to drive away led to a pursuit and interception at a second checkpoint. The command said the matter remains under investigation.
