Counsel to Mr. Nicholas Azuka, a complainant has lamented to the independent Investigative panel on Human Rights Violation by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian police over the penchant of the police counsel for calling his client a serial complainer.
The lawyer also appealed to the 11-Member panel chaired by Justice Suleiman Galadima to warn the police counsel in the panel who he noted have the proclivity for referring to his client as a serial complainer, to henceforth desist from doing so.
Mr. Ebu further pleaded with the panel to caution the police counsel, he narrated how his client was being followed by the police to his hotel room in Goshen sometime last year and that such an act is something that deserves the notice and attention of the panel.
In his response the police counsel Mr. James Idachaba argued that it was not hidden he has severally referred to him as such either during cross examination or in our submission as such it is not a secret he added.
Chairman of the panel Justice Sulieman Galadima rtd has queried Mr Ebu why he is just mentioning it now after one year, however he cautioned Mr. Idachaba to withdraw his statement.
It will be recalled that Mr. Nicholas Azuka petitioned the panel in November 2020 over allege abuse of office and arbitrary arrest against the police and Mr and Mrs king Nwachuwukwu who are respondents in the matter.
Azuka had narrated how his company was listed among the real estate firms selected by the office of the Head of Service for joint collaboration to execute the federal integrated housing scheme popularly tagged as FISH.
According to him one Mr. Victoria approached him and indicated interest to participate in the program and paid the sum of 3,5 million only while her husband paid the sum of 40000.he informed the panel that Mrs Nwachuckuw storm his office at Efab Mall area 11 Garki, Abuja with men of SARS and arrested him.
The matter has been adjourned to 23rd of November 2021 for adoption of written addresses.
Similarly a complainant Mr. Joseph Bassey Arikpo, a Cross River state legal practitioner narrated his ordeal in the hands of the police. He brought before the panel a case of alleged unlawful arrest, detention, cruel inhuman, and degrading treatment and intimidation.
He said that he was beaten with a baton and horse whip and dragged to the cell and that he was later stripped and only left with his boxers.
The matter was adjourned till 24th of November for defense.
