A complainant, Mrs. Remigus Ifeyinwa Clementina on Wednesday narrated before the Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigeria Police how her 80-year-old father, Pa Pius Ajaegbu was allegedly brutalized and detained by the Police, leading to his death.
Testifying via zoom before the panel, the petitioner said that her father’s ordeal started when he went out to buy ‘akara’ (a local food made from beans) and was accosted by a team of Policemen who were on a raid within the Obalende-Oshodi area in Lagos state.
According to the complainant, when she learnt that her father was being accosted by the Police, she rushed to the scene and asked what the matter was, saying nobody answered her.
“The Police asked me to leave otherwise they would shoot me”.
Additionally, she said one of the Police personnel slapped her father, followed by a second and third, which led to his collapse.
“The Police whisked my frail and elderly father away to the station and while in custody, he was unable to pass urine for one month” she said.
She told the panel presided over by Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) that her father died as a result of internal injuries from the police, coupled with other health challenges he developed while in custody.
According to her, she made several visits to the Police station in order to secure the release of her father but to no avail “rather I was told to stop coming otherwise they will shoot me”
She stated that at some point, her father was arraigned in court and detained at Badagry Prison in Lagos.
She narrated that when the family eventually secured his bail and following the several tortures suffered by her father in the hands of the Police, the old man eventually died on 24th June 2018.
The panel however sought to know what she want.
She responded, saying that she wants compensation of N50 million as general damages, and for the expenses, she incurred in trying to treat her father in the hospital, as well as the burial expenses.
In his cross-examination, counsel to the Police, Kenneth Egbuchua asked the complainant to state the offence of her elderly father, stressing he was a victim of circumstances, having gone out while the police raid lasted.
The matter was adjourned till the 22nd of March, 2022 for defense.
