The Chairman Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violation by defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian police force, Justice Sulieman Galadima (rtd) has warned complainants to stop forum shopping in their bid to seek redress for human rights violations.
He threatened that he would not hesitate to strike out any petition that is receiving attention before another authority.
His warning to petitioners also coincided with similar caution to the Nigerian Police
to live up to its responsibility and ensure maximum cooperation at the panel.
The jurist stated these warnings on one hand, while reacting to an information from Barrister I.W. Izon, who told the panel that his client, Igwe Michael Chidozie has the intention to withdraw his petition from the panel
On the other hand, he caution the Police at the hearing of the case of alleged abuse of office and intimidation brought before the panel by one Eng. Nicholas Azuka.
The retired Justice pointed out that at the last adjourned date, the police counsel promised to personally ensure the respondents appearance in the person of DSP Funmilayo Oguoje before it, in order for her to give detailed testimony on the subject matter.
The Chairman observed that a lot must have been spent in terms of publicity to bring these petitions to public attention only for some of the petitioners to withdraw them.
In view of the above, the complainant’s counsel made an oral application seeking to withdraw the petition which borders on unlawful arrest and detention, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.
He also told the 11-Member panel that the matter is already being resolved via Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), even as he apologize for the inconveniences the case might have caused the panel so far.
Consequently, Justice Galadima said, “the petition having been withdrawn is hereby struck out”.
In another petition, the panel adjourned till 22nd of November for continuation of hearing into John Ogbu’s matter involving unlawful arrest and detention, torture, inhuman and degrading treatment.
When the matter came up on Tuesday, the complainant’s counsel, Chikodili Emmanuella Ezeugwu told the panel that her client was down with fever and therefore could not come to the panel.
Earlier, the complainant had testified before the panel that police wrongfully arrested and detained him and also ceased some of his television sets when they visited his shop in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
In the process, he stated that some police officers tortured him. He listed Inspector Edwin Kendiry of defunct SARS FCT, Commissioner of Police FCT and Inspector General of Police as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively.
He is therefore prayed the panel to order N5 million compensation for the torture and other human rights violations he suffered in the hands of some offices of the Force.
He also asked for N1 million as a refund to the medical expenses he incurred as a rest of the torture among others.
Also, Justice Galadima disappointingly noted that the police have not lived up to their expectations. In that regard, he urged them to sit up and ensure that all their respondents are always present in the panel whenever they are needed.
In his defense the lead counsel to the police, James Idachaba told the panel that DSP Funmilayo would have been present at the panel but for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election where all the personnel of the force CID were deployed to provide security
Idachaba reminded the panel that DSP Funmilayo had been before the panel severally and she is eager and willing to come and give evidence to lay the matter to rest once and for all.
The police counsel said once she appears before the panel she will throw more light on the allegations which will assist the panel, adding that her testimony will be sufficient for defense to be opened.
Engineer Nicholas Azuka had earlier accused the police of unlawful arrest detention, intimidation, and torture.
He narrated how the police manhandled him without cause under the supervision of DSP Funmilayo who was supposed to investigate allegations of the fraudulent transaction against him by Hon. Haruna Mohammed over the sale of land in kubwa FCT.
The matter came up twice for the continuation of hearing and in all instances, the respondents have failed to turn up for defense, hence the case was adjourned to November 23, 2021 for the counsel to open his defense.
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