1 January 2009
Maiduguri — Two policewomen, Ruth Simon and Clementina Jerome, who were recently dismissed from the police for allegedly engaging in lesbianism have denied the allegation and called for a review of the case.
Ruth, 28, who was recruited into the Nigerian Police in 2001 as constable with registration number 09961, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that there was no truth in the allegation.
She said that Clementina was only a close friend and that they shared a room at Wulari Police Barracks in Maiduguri.
She said that before her employment into the force, Clementina had been her closest friend when they were in secondary school.
"The relationship later transformed into a family friendship. We are also family friends," Ruth added.
Ruth said that her enlistment into the police was a source of inspiration for her friend to join the force in 2003 and since then they had lived peacefully without any problem with each other.
She said that the incident that led to their dismissal in November this year was as a result of misunderstanding she had with Clementina over the ownership of a handset.
Ruth said that the misunderstanding drew the attention of the Sokoto Police Command and subsequently led to their trial by the police authorities. "I saw Clementina with a new Nokia handset and as a friend I asked how she got it, she asked why should I question her over the handset.
"I immediately snatched it and ran away. My friend was annoyed and went straight to my room and broke my television set. I then reported her to our superior officers and she was directed to replace the television.
"Following this misunder-standing in August, the command later resolved to transfer me to Kukawa Divisional Police Station, while Clementina was transferred to Uba division," she added.
Ruth further said that barely three months after the transfers, they were again summoned to the state headquarters and accused of lesbianism.
"We were immediately sacked by the state police for 'discreditable conduct' under the Police Act.
"I am not a lesbian as I am already with a man who is preparing for our marriage any moment from now," she noted.
She called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mike Okiro to order for a review of the case after a thorough investigation for them to be recalled.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
