The Independent Investigative Panel on human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police Tuesday insisted that three policemen who took Ovoke Godwin Onomrerhino (now deceased) out for investigation before he allegedly jumped off a moving police vehicle should appear to enable the panel unravel the circumstances that led to the death of the victim.
The Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Inspector Kambari Tambari had on 3rd of December, 2020 had testified before the 11-Member panel chaired by Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) that he sat on the front seat while the three policemen namely; Sergeants Musa Sunday, Lucky Kehinde and Lucky Okuku sat at the open portion of the van with Ovoke, who he said suddenly jumped off the vehicle and got injured in the process.
Joined in the petition are CSP Isah Hassan (DPO Abraka), Mr Odiri Emeni (Head of Igu Vigilante), Igu Vigilante, Ethiope East Local Government, Delta state, Commissioner of Police, Delta state and the Inspector General of Police.
When the matter was called up today (Tuesday 23rd Feb.2021), counsel to the complaints, OJ Okoroze-Egbo reminded the panel that it made an order on the 3rd of December, 2020 compelling the police to ensure the appearance of the said police personnel who were sitting together with Ovoke in the same vehicle the day he allegedly jumped off the vehicle.
She therefore said that police ought to have ensured the appearance of the affected officers before the panel so that the matter will proceed as expected.
Her position was quickly corroborated by counsel to the panel, Afolabi Olawale, saying “My Lord there was an order directing the police to ensure the appearance of the listed officers to through more light on the circumstances that led to the death of the victim”.
It will be recalled that the first respondent, CSP Hassan informed the panel that the late Ovoke Godwin was arrested on June 29, 2019 by the Igun Vigilante following his alleged involvement in an armed robbery incident on the Eku-Igun highway.
He said the victim took policemen to where his gang kept their operation weapons used in the robbery operation, added that as they were returning to the station he jumped off a moving police vehicle and got injured.
He said that he later learnt Ovoke confessed and wanted to take the police to where their operational weapons used for the robbery on Igun road and that the police eventually recovered two guns and some cartridges.
“As they were driving into the station, Ovoke jumped down from the vehicle while it was moving and got himself injured”, the CSP Hassan stated.
According to him, he was rearrested and brought to the station before he (CSP Hassan) ordered that he should be taken to Abraka General Hospital where he died afterwards.
The matter was adjourned to 14th by March, 2021 for the police to produce the aforementioned policemen for cross examination.
