EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING: COUNSEL ACCUSES NIGERIA POLICE OF FABRICATING EVIDENCE

By: Michael Mike, Abuja

The Independent Investigative Panel on allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti – Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police at a resumed sitting on Tuesday listened to the argument of the Counsel to Victoria Agori , Olutekunbi, who accused the police of fabricating allegation of Kidnapping against Daniel Agori .

Olutekunbi, stated in his final address that the police fabricated evidence to justify the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment meted out to Daniel Agori. 

Speaking before  Rtd. Justice Suleiman Galadima led the panel, in his address which was dated and filed on  30th March, Olutekunbi argued that the police ought to have explained their role in the death of Daniel Agori rather than flagging the issue of kidnapping against the victim to cover up their heinous crime.

While Counsel to the respondent (Police) Malik Taiwo noted in his address that the evidence presented by the petitioners were at variance.

Taiwo argued that the testimony earlier presented by Victoria Agori, the (petitioner), was different from what actually transpired. Victoria Agori in her testimony disclosed to the panel that fight broke out between her children, and one of her daughters, Felicia Agori connived with her police boyfriend Victor Nelson(3rd Respondent) who along with Justin Adaka ,Yusuf Bello and one Musa invaded  the family house in the absence of her husband shooting sporadically in the air while torturing her at the same time. 

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In the final address presented before the panel, Taiwo stated that from testimony presented by the first respondent, Justin Adaka,  Daniel allegedly a cultist and  member of kidnapping group was arrested for the kidnap of the wife of  Golden Osarumuen and  was shot  on the leg during a cross fire between the police and kidnappers. Therefore the police are seeking the dismissal of their application.

In a related development in the case of alleged extrajudicial killing, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of  Ifeoma Abugu, Counsel to police, Fidelis Ogwobe stated there was no evidence before the panel indicating that she was dehumanised.

Ogwobe ,counsel to  the respondents ,in the final address argued that both documents and oral testimony of the chief pathologist was not enough to show that the respondents, (Nigerian Police) killed Ifeoma Abugu. 

Ogwobe reminded the panel that the autopsy result presented by the pathologist was discredited by another independent pathologist contracted by the Nigeria Police. Stating further before the Rtd Justice Suleiman Galadima, Ogwobe argued that the petitioners counsel attempt to adopt the doctrine of last seen should be dismissed.

It will be recalled that at an earlier hearing according to the testimony of Afam Ugunwa, the victim’s (Ms Ifeoma Abugu) fiancé, Ms Ifeoma died in the custody of the police on the 13th September, 2020. The police alleged that she died due to high consumption of drugs, while the autopsy conducted on her showed no traces of drugs in her blood.

Both cases have been adjourned for the panel’s report.

EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING: COUNSEL ACCUSES NIGERIA POLICE OF FABRICATING EVIDENCE