The Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigeria Police Force on Monday issued a warrant of arrest on the Commissioner of Police in charge of legal services at the Force Headquarters, CP Ochogwu.
This is sequel to alleged enforced disappearance and unlawful arrest and detention of John Emeka Alozie by the force since 25th of June, 2017.
The CP was on several occasions ordered to appear before the panel with a case file of a victim Alozie, “but up till date he did honour the order of the panel, despite adjourning the petitions five times to allow more time for the CP to do the needful”.
Worried with the development, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) who issued the arrest warrant on the top Police Officer, observed that the attitude of Ochogwu is below expectation of a lawyer and officer of the Police Force.
Consequently, the chairman said the only option left for the panel was to issue a warrant of arrest on the CP legal and mandate the National Human Rights Commission to write to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, LPDC to report Ochogwu conduct in the matter.
The Chairman noted that the CP has flagrantly and repeatedly disobeyed the order of the panel, having refused to turn in the said case file to enable the panel unravel the truth about the whereabouts of Alozie in accordance with the law.
It would be recalled that the wife of the victim, Alozie had testified that a high court had ordered the Police to release the victim, saying the order was never obeyed till date.
The panel adjourned the petition till 27th of April, 2022 for progress report.
