Boy whose uncle drove nail into his head discharged against medical advice

Eight-year-old Friday Paul, whose paternal uncle tortured and allegedly drove three-inch nail into his skull, has been discharged from hospital against medical advice.

This came after a representative of Lagos Child Protection Network, visited Sagamu Road Police Division, Ikorodu, where the suspect, Mr. Ifeanyi Paul, was being detained.
The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, was said to have dismissed the matter, claiming it was mere fiction and that the suspect had no case to answer.

Vanguard learned that the police had discharged the suspect and sent some officers to his abode at 6, Anjolarin Street, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, to warn neighbours and sympathisers to stop divulging information to journalists or risk prosecution.

At press time, Mr. Paul’s apartment was under lock and key, an indication that he has relocated from the area.

There was palpable fear in the neighbourhood as some residents, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said the female Investigative Police Officer, IPO, personally visited the area to warn them to stay out of the matter or have themselves to blame.

Also, at Saviour the Rock Hospital, nurses were unwilling to cooperate with Vanguard as they have been warned by the Police to mind their businesses.

However, a senior Police officer, who pleaded anonymity, said his colleagues may have compromised as the IPO speaks the same dialect with the suspect. He said the suspect and his immediate family have relocated to an unknown place after the victim was discharged outside medical advice.

The source said the IPO and Friday’s senior uncle visited the hospital, weekend, to withdraw all the exhibits from the hospital, after which the boy was discharged against medical advice.

 According to the source,

“we have enough evidence to prosecute the suspect for child abuse, assault and attempted murder, but our Oga (DPO) and IPO are shielding him for reasons best known to them. “There are many exhibits relating to the crime: belt, nail, X-ray film, radiological report, GP’s report from General Hospital, Ikorodu, and referral letter showing nail in the head. “Also, there are pictures of the injury site before and after the surgery and pictures of the previous scars on the face, forehead and legs. But for reasons best known to the DPO, the suspect was discharged and acquitted over the weekend.”