Extra-judicial Killing: Again IIP-SARS Summons Inspector Makus Joe, Others

The IIP-SARS on Thursday affirmed it’s earlier order of 9th of February 2021 directing the Commissioner of Police, Cross River State and the Security Adviser to the Governor of the State to appear before it over their alleged role in Operation Skolombo which resulted in the death of Mr Emmanuel Ita Ephraim.

On the aforesaid date, the panel also ordered the appearance of ASP Marcus Joe, following his alleged role in depositing the body of the deceased at the General Hospital mortuary in Calabar, Cross River State.

The 11-Member panel chaired by Justice Sulieman Galadima (rtd) in addition to the above stated orders, mandated the police to produce before the panel, a certified true copy of the Police station’s crime diary, where the movement of the deceased body was documented after he was allegedly killed by Operation Skolombo.

When the case was called up today (25th of February 2021), a member of the police legal team, Malik Taiwo prayed the panel for a stand down of the matter to enable him consult the other counsel, Godwin Ijeoma who was earlier appearing for the police in earlier proceedings.

The chairman rather asked the police Liaison Secretariat represented by Eristo Asaph to explain why Markus Joe who deposited the body of the victim in Calabar General Hospital is not present as earlier ordered by the panel.

Eristo informed the panel that Godwin Ijeoma who has been appearing in the matter for the police said he was going to contact Markus Joe to be present at the panel, which according to him made him not to send any signal to Joe.

It will be recalled that the panel had on the last adjourned date, 9th of February 2021 ordered the police to bring a certified true copy of the police station diary, for which the police instead came with a printed WhatsApp copy of the said document.

When the matter was part heard on November 30th and December 15th 2020 respectively, deceased younger brother testified before the panel that, on June 17th, 2017 his brother was shot by operatives of operation Skolombo on his way to church.

Operation Skolombo includes DSS, Navy and NSCDC, a security outfit set up by Cross River State government to maintain peace and order in the State.

Under cross examination, the 4th respondent Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kabiru Salisu, told the panel that the police personnel were not part of Operation Skolombo on the very day Ephraim was killed.
The case was adjourned till 7th of April, 2021 for continuation of hearing.