By Tayo Alabi
A complainant, Julius Ogalanya has sought for justice and compensation at the Independent Investigative panel on Human Rights violations by the Defunct SARS and other units of police on Monday, saying his means of livelihood has been shattered by the police.
Specifically, Ogalanya told the panel how his thighs were shattered by bullets by one Gabriel Adi of the Nigeria Police.
In his testimony during the sitting Ogalanya said on the 2nd of April 2020 after the close of work, he decided to visit his friend’s house who took him out for a drink at the bar. While taking his drink the bottle mistakenly dropped and broke and the owner of the Bar threatened to kill him for breaking the bottle “you will see she said”.
However, according to the complainant, the bar owner called the police who happen to be her lover to arrest him.
Continuing, he stated that when he subsequently got released, he was shot at the upper region of the leg by Gabriel Adi (the lover boy) of the Gwagwalada police division FCT Police Command.
According to Ogalanya the said policeman threatened him “I told you, you will see, I thought you said police gun has no bullet he said” this was after allegedly firing a gunshot at him.
Meanwhile, the complainant was taken to the Gwagwalada teaching hospital by a Good Samaritan.
Ogalanya said surgery was carried out on him 3 times to fix his leg.
Chairman of the panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) said after listening to such testimony, he expects the police to tender an apology to the victim citing that it is a clear case of gross violation of fundamental human rights.
According to Justice Galadima rtd, counsel to the police should make an inquiry into the amount the police has spent so far to offset the complainant’s medical bill and report back to the panel on the next adjourned date.
Responding Fidelis Ogobe regretted the unfortunate incident, saying upon investigation, he was duly informed that the police has paid for one of the surgeries carried out on the complainant, also he said he called the DPO who told him that Gabriel is on transfer to one of the police outpost at the outskirt of Gwagwalada.
The case has been adjourned to the 15 of March 2021 with the order that the police produce Gabriel Adi.
