- COMPELS APPEARANCE OF CSP ISAH HASSAN WITH HOSPITAL, MORTUARY DOCUMENTS
The IIP-SARS Thursday insisted that the police must obey its order to produce three officers who are allegedly linked to the extra-judicial killing of Ovoke Godwin Onomrerhino to enable it to unravel the circumstances of the victim’s death.
Similarly, the 11-Member panel chaired by Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) reminded the police that the 1st respondent in the petition, CSP Isah Hassan has not been discharged as a witness since he is yet to furnish the panel with documents showing how Ovoke died in the hospital and how his body was subsequently deposited in the mortuary.
According to the panel, it is important for CSP Isah Hassan and the other three police officers namely, Sgt. Musa, Sgt. Lucky Kehinde and Sgt. Lucky Okuku to appear before the panel to clarify some issues in respect of the victim’s death.
In the light of the above, the panel directed the police legal team led by James Idachaba to ensure that the affected officers are brought before the panel on the 24th of November, 2021, being the next adjourned date.
Earlier before the adjournment, Counsel to the petitioner, Onome Juliet Okoroze told the panel that CSP has in his testimony stated that Sgt. Musa, Sgt. Lucky Kehinde and Sgt. Lucky Okuku were in the police vehicle when Ovoke (now deceased) jumped off and sustained serious injuries, which led to his death in the hospital in Delta state.
Continuing, she said that the panel was right to have ordered that CSP Isah Hassan should come back to the panel with the necessary documents to prove that Ovoke actually received treatment in the hospital courtesy of the police before he gave up the ghost.
She also aligned with the position of the panel that the necessary documents to show that the body of Ovoke was deposited in the mortuary after his death must be tendered before the panel to really establish how the victim died.
She reminded the panel that this would be the third time the panel adjourned the matter on the instance of the police, who she said are not taking the matter with the needed seriousness.
On the other hand, police legal team led by James Idachaba informed the panel that some of the officers needed at the panel were around shortly before the panel went on break in April.
In addition, he told the panel that police have been cooperating with the panel recalling that CSP Isah Hassan who left Abraka Police Division in Delta state was even traced and brought to the panel before he made his testimony.
It would be recalled that police allegedly arrested Ovoke over an armed robbery incident in Delta state.
The police also said that while they were investigating the case, Ovoke made an unsuccessful attempt to escape from their moving vehicle and got injured in the process, which later resulted in his death.
Other respondents in the petition are CSP Isah Hassan (DPO Abraka), Mr. Odiri Emeni, Head of Igun Vigilante, Ethiope East Local Government, Delta State, Commissioner of Police, Delta State, and Inspector General of Police.
In another petition, the panel directed the police to file and serve their written address to all parties within one week in respect of a case of alleged arbitrary detention, torture, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of Francis Ogbaji.
Before the matter was adjourned to 24th of November, 2021, counsel to the Complainant, Richard Obiano said that the matter was adjourned for defense and that the Complainant had closed his case earlier on.
In their response, counsel to the police, James Idachaba told the panel that ACP Mantu who is needed before the panel has been transferred from FCT Police Command to Rivers state Police Command as Commander Mopol 19, Port Harcourt, Rivers state. Besides, he said that he is currently on a national assignment in Anambra state, though he promised to make effort to reach him to do the needful.
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NIGERIANS MUST KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF PERSONS IN POLICE CUSTODY—–IIP-SARS CHAIRMAN INSISTS
The Independent Investigative Panel on allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti – Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police reminded the Police on Thursday that they (police) has a duty to explain to Nigerians the whereabouts of persons who they arrested and are supposedly in their custody.
The Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima retd gave this reminder at the hearing of the alleged violation of the right to personal liberty and enforced disappearance of one Eric Ezeala who was arrested in 2017 by members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and nothing has been heard about him, according to his family members.
The Chairman who was visibly angry about the situation told the lead Counsel for Respondents in this matter, James Idachaba, that the police cannot run away from answering questions on the enforced disappearance of Eric Ezeala, and that the police must be deeply involved in this matter, “we must get to the bottom of this case as quickly as possible” he noted.
Buttressing the Chairman’s position, one of the panelists, John Aikpokpo-Martins in his words “we have a timeline and we must finish this national assignment within the time frame we have. The panel cannot wind up without confirming the whereabouts of victims in police custody, whether they are alive or dead”
James Idachaba Esq assured the panel that “ I will get involved personally to find out the whereabouts of Eric Ezeala” and he further disclosed to the panel that from a preliminary investigation carried out personally, he found out that Eric Ezela was arrested by the Inspector General of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT) and not SARS as alleged by his family.
It could be recalled that in her testimony, Hilda Ezeala, mother to the victim, stated that in July 2017 some policemen came and arrested her son and informed her to come with her lawyer to Owerri Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) office. On getting to the SARS office they were informed that he has been transferred to Abuja, and nothing has been heard about him since then.
The matter has been adjourned to 23rd November 2021 for respondents to find the whereabouts of Eric Ezeala.
Similarly, the police failed to produce Bawa James of defunct FCT SARS before the panel, to explain his role in the case of alleged inhuman and degrading treatment and extortion against Ezeani Henry.
The petitioner, Ezeani Henry, in his earlier testimony alleged that members of defunct SARS FCT forcefully arrested him and tortured him at their office in Garki. The team led by one Bawa James demanded that he pays N350,000 to bail himself, but his wife was only able to raise N120,000 to secure his release.
Following the absence of Bawa James, the Chairman of the panel directed that respondents have to forego their defence, hence subsequently directed both Counsels for petitioner and respondents to prepare their written addresses and submit the same one week from today.
The Chairman adjourned the matter to 22nd November 2021 for the adoption of addresses.