The Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police Force on Tuesday permitted the hearing of some petitions before it via zoom to make it convenient for petitioners and police officers to seamlessly testify and give evidence before the panel.
The panel noted that the idea of a hybrid hearing is acceptable since there was possibility of hearing some of the petitions via zoom, which has been approved by the Secretariat of the panel.
Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) a member of the panel who granted the permission on Tuesday noted that the panel was time bound and that all parties should cooperate to enable the panel to dispense with the various cases within the set time.
The panelist who presided over the panel on behalf of the Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) stated this when a case of alleged unlawful arrest, enforced disappearance and unlawful confiscation of properties brought by Mr. Lebara Tobias against the Police was called up on Tuesday.
On the said matter, the Police through their lead counsel, James Idachaba pleaded for more time to reach out to the necessary officers whose presence are needed at the panel.
The respondents in the petition were SP Martins Samuel of IGP IRT Port-Harcourt Rivers state, ASP David Ameh Agbo of IGP IRT Port Harcourt Rivers state, ASP Amadi Ngozi of IGP IRT Port-Harcourt Rivers state, Commissioner of Police Rivers state and Inspector General of Police.
The matter was adjourned to 21st of March, 2022 at the instance of the Police, for hearing.
Meanwhile ,A petitioner, Aniekan Archibong, before the Independent Investigative Panel on human rights violations by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units in Abuja, on Tuesday narrated, via zoom meeting, (a novelty introduced by the panel), how the Nigerian Police allegedly arrested him unlawfully, detained him and also seized his properties in Calabar, Cross Rivers state despite court orders to release his properties to him.
Aniekan, who operated a patent medicine store, gave his testimony virtually stated that on 22nd September, 2019, one Sgt Anthony Eze, then attached to the anti-robbery unit of the State Police Command headquarter, in the company of some persons accosted him in his shop, manhandled him, without telling him his offence and took him away to the police station while tagging him an armed robber.
“While I was in detention my Toyota Carina Car, Samsung phone, HP laptop and the sum of N68, 000 were seized from me by Sgt Anthony Eze” he added.
Iin his testimony before the 9 man panel, Aniekan stated that he was released after 4 days in detention without the police releasing his properties that were seized from him.
Aniekan also disclosed to the panel that he later discovered that Sgt Anthony Eze did not declare all the items he confiscated from him and all efforts to recover the aforementioned items proved abortive. This led him to file a suit at the High Court in Cross River, Judicial Division Calabar for the enforcement of his fundamental rights and he claimed judgement was given in his favour against the police, for Sgt Anthony to release his properties.
Under cross examination, the counsel to respondents, Fidelis Ogwobe asked Aniekan what was the judgement of the court on the matter. In response Aniekan stated that despite the intervention of the court, he told the panel that his properties confiscated by the police are yet to be released.
The matter was adjourned to 21st March, 2022 for defence.
