Nigerian Police Harass Musician, Bez

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Nigerian singer, Bez recounted his harrowing encounter at the hands of police at Okota area of Lagos today.

Despite having his wife, Tito Idakula and two-month-old daughter in the car with him, police accused the singer of faking his insurance document.

Narrating his experience, Bez said a policeman angrily got him ‘out of the car and pushed me under the rain into the station’ after he said he had no cash on him to bribe them.

BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
Police showed me shege in Okota today, of all the documents in my life…they said I faked insurance…INSURANCE!!
5:08 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
I said I didn’t have cash on me… The guy just vexed..got me out of the car and pushed me under the rain into the station
5:10 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
He said to his wicked partners in yoruba..majeko lagun.. Which means I will make them sweat (my wife quickly translated)
5:11 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
Meanwhile they saw baby in the car oh.. Dem no send.. One woman in mufty was shouting on me and saying they will embarrass me here!!
5:12 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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According to him, they ordered him to write a statement about being in possession of a fake document, which he flatly refused.

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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
They had guns so I just chilled.. They now brought out paper and told me to write a statement that I was in possession of a fake document
5:13 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
The paper was labelled Witness/Accused. I asked if they were arresting me.. They said not yet. Am I a witness? No.. Accused? No…
5:14 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
I said based on the fact that I am none of the above.. I can’t write any statement, also it says the person has to write willingly…
5:15 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
…and no one is under any obligation to say anything. He now asked me if he put a gun to my head, I said no.. He now said oya start writing
5:16 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
I said Oga.. I am following what this paper says.. I am not writing anything… Meanwhile wife and baby still in car…making calls lol
5:19 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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Bez was later let off the hook after his documents were verified. But not without the police getting more apprehensive about him refusing to drop tips for them.

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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
Finally a friend came to check up on my wife and baby…he suggested giving the police something… My wife said lai lai!!
5:27 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
Someone after verifying my documents called the police guys and told them to let me go..see vexing!!
5:31 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
‘Musician’ no wan drop Abi? They forced me again to write statement… I refused… That police woman..hm..vexed!! They aha let me go
5:33 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
My wife had even called the insurance people, verified the docs, went online.. The records were there…
5:34 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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At the end of the day, Bez believes the harassment could only occur because the law enforcers wield guns.

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BEZ ✔ @BEZidakula
All this happened simply because they could. They had guns, I didn’t… I still don’t..lol… God bless Nigeria.
5:36 PM – 16 Sep 2016
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