By Esther Yakubu
The Independent Investigative Panel on SARS and other Units of the Nigerian Police Force IIP-SARS panel was not set up to act in vain, a member of the panel has said.
Recall, the panel was set up by the Federal Government in the wake of the End SARS protest of 8, October 2020 to investigate allegations of Police brutality against Nigerians.
The 1st Vice President of Nigeria Bar Association NBA John Aikpokpo Martins, a panel member representing the NBA made this assertion during one of the hearings which came up on Thursday, 25th February, 2020.
Indeed, Martins expressed dissatisfaction over failure of respondents (police) who do not turn up for defense in most of the cases before the panel, lamenting that this action stalls hearings.
“The panel can no longer afford to waste so much time on matters that ordinarily would have been resolved within a short time” he added.
In the case of alleged abuse of office and intimidation between one Engineer Nicholas Ogbedo Azuka and officers of the Nigerian Police Force, which came up for continuation of hearing, Nicholas accused the police of unlawful arrest, detention, intimidation and torture.
He narrated how the Police manhandled him under the supervision of DSP Funmilayo who was supposed to investigate allegations of fraudulent transaction committed against him by Hon. Haruna Mohammed over the sale of land in Kubwa FCT.
Nicholas who is demanding among other reliefs, the sum of N15 million (Fifteen Million Naira) from the Nigerian Police, over what he termed, “Compensation for damages on grounds of unlawful arrest and detention, intimidation, and torture by the police, told the panel that he was defrauded to the tune of N5, 700,000.00 (Five Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira) by one Hon. Haruna Mohammed.
According to him, the case was reported to upper area Court Gudu sitting in Abuja where the court wrote to the Deputy Commissioner of Police FCT and ordered investigation into the matter.
According to the petitioner, upon investigation as directed by the court, DSP Funmilayo recovered the sum of N3, 150, 000.00 only over a period of eight months and handed over to him while the balance of N900, 000 is still with her.
He also said that in addition to recovering his money, DSP Funmilayo returned to court and testified against him, accusing him of giving false information to the Police.
The matter which was heard on November 16th 2020 has come up twice for continuation, and in all instances, the respondents, DSP Funmilayo, Sgt. Gimba Martins and Inspector Archibong have failed to turn up for their defense.
Lead counsel to the respondents, James Idachaba Esq however promised to personally ensure their appearances at the next adjourned date.
The Chairman of the panel Rtd Justice Suleiman Galadima later adjourned the matter to 8th April 2021 for continuation of hearing, saying “in the absence of the respondents, the panel will make a conclusion and close the matter”.
