A Police counsel,Mr. Malik Taiwo has stated before the Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violations by the Defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian police force that a complainant before the panel Mr. Emenike Umezuruike should not be awarded any compensation because he was not detained by the police and his evidence not convincing enough.
Taiwo while reading his written address said the testimony given by the complainant should be dismissed citing the fact that no independent witness has corroborated his testimony before the panel.
According to Mr. Taiwo, the complainant was not unlawfully arrested or detained for 58 days as he claimed, saying that it was mere allegations to tarnish the image of the police.
The police counsel asked some notable questions “what did he suffer as a result of the detention? Did he go to the hospital? Where was he detained? There is no clarity”, he said.
Mr. Emenike Festus Umezurike while narrating his ordeals in the hands of the Nigerian Police said he was unlawfully detained for 58 days at the Cameroun Barracks Police station Aba, Abia state where the Police tried to extort N5 million from him.
Testifying in the case of alleged unlawful arrest, detention, inhuman and degrading treatment he brought against the Police, Mr. Umezurike, told the panel that while he was trying to market a landed property, the Police arrested and detained him at Umuagwo Police station in Ohaji Egbema in Imo state.
He informed the panel that the said property he was trying to sell came through one Johnbosco, who unknown to him does illegal business of framing charges against innocent people, and using the Police to detain and extort money from them in the name of bail.
According to him while at the Police station, “a lady surfaced and claimed that I duped her sometimes in 2007”, which he said made the Police prolong his detention.
He further stated that he tried to defend himself by telling the Police that he did not know the lady at all, let alone duping her up to the tune of N5 million but his defence was not considered by the Police.
Speaking further before the panel presided by Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) on behalf of the Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) Mr. Emenike Umezuruike alleged that he was teargassed and beaten with rope and cane by Inspector Ebini (in-charge of crime), Cameroun Barracks Police station Aba, Abia state.
He pleaded with the panel to order compensation of N100 million in his favour following the alleged human rights violations meted out to him by the police.
The matter has been adjourned for report.
