NEWS: IGP SUMMONS OTHERS AS PANEL RESUMES SITTING
The Independent Investigation Panel of human rights violations by Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and other units of the Police of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the appearance of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, and other officers listed as respondents in the bordering petition alleged illegal detention.
The panel headed by a retired Supreme Court Judge Suleiman Galadima, equally directed police to produce the prisoner, Edward Dumsiri Leera, whose brother, Confidence Leera, alleged to have been detained by police from November 1, 2019.
It adjourned the case until Thursday to allow authorities police to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the appearance of the IGP and other officers were listed as 1 to 6 respondents in the petition.
Others call for the extended panel, are; Samuel Martins SP, DSP Edet Essien E. Esq., ASP David Agbo Ahmed, IGP IRT “D” Division Itam, Uyo, as well as the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State. Before the order, the victim’s brother to be arrested, Confidence, led evidence by his counsel, Mr. Victor Giwa, testified before the panel about his ordeal some “lost brother” suffered at the hands of the affected police officers. According to the complainant, the victim was arrested, detained without just cause, his car was confiscated and converted to personal use by the Police Investigation, IPO, one of the ASP David Ahmed Agbo.
He alleged that the ASP Agbo continue to push the car belonged to his brother, and has been also make cash withdrawals from the victim’s account using his ATM, between the period of November 2019 to October 2020. Confidence told the panel that his police ask families to pay the amount of N 3 million before Edward will be released.
He said his brother had not been charged before to courts in Nigeria and when the family got worried over the long incarceration, they instituted a suit for the enforcement of fundamental rights in the suit No. B.H.C / 202/2019.
“Subsequently, on December 17, 2019 the court ordered the hearing of the application esteemed Edward Dumisara Leera and delivered judgment in favor and ordered the immediate release says Edward.
“We duly served on the Police’s decision but they still refused to obey orders”, he added. Applicant lamenting that instead abide by the court decision, the police, then filed a seven-count charge against the accused before Justice E.N. Ogbuji in suit No. PHC / 287 / CR / 2020 report he said that despite the cost, the police did not produce the prisoner to charge or release him in accordance with previous court orders.
Against this, the applicant told the panel that he suspected that his brother had been extra-judicially killed by the police and thrown away. Meanwhile, the panel on Monday, also gives the team the Police led by Mr James Idachaba until Tuesday to respond to other cases involving threats to the life of Mr. Bello Akubuokwu, who allegedly hit by a stray bullet when police clashed with protesting members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, or known as the Shia sect, in Abuja in 2019.
The hearing panel suspended on four other petitions before. One petition involving cases of extra-judicial killings of corps members, Linda Igwetu by police, was postponed to December 2 to activate one of the Respondent, the Inspector Benjamin Peters, which will be produced before the panel.
Similarly, complaints of abuse of office and arbitrary arrests Engr. Nicholas Ogbedo Azuka postponed to November 30, after the police legal team asked for more time to study the case file and make the necessary arrangements to bring Respondents to the panel. Likewise, complaints of alleged abuse of office and intimidation filed by Engr. Azuka it adjourned to 2 December, to allow the police to ensure the appearance of Respondent as instructed by the panel
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