The Independent Investigative Panel on allegations of human rights violations against the Police and other Tactical Unit of the Nigerian Police Force resumes sitting in Abuja today, Monday February 8th 2021.
The panel heard five (5 ) cases among which is a case of alleged enforced disappearance of one Mr. Morris Fater Ahwe who was last seen by members of his family in 2018 following his arrest.
In his testimony the complainant Mr Raphael Ashwe who is also the elder brother of the victim, told the panel that the victim was arrested and paraded at the police headquarters in Makurdi on the 8th of May 2018 over the allegation of gun running and illegal possession of firearms. According to Mr. Rapheal, two days later his brother was moved to Abuja and that since his movement to Abuja they have not seen nor heard from him and that all efforts to reach him yielded no result.
The complainant further stated that efforts made to reach the IRT here in Abuja failed as they refuse to divulge any information about Mr. Morris Fater Ahwe .
Reacting to the Petition, Counsel to the police James Idachaba said he and his team are not privy to the testimony of the complainant “we can’t say what we don’t know ” Idachaba said, adding that the presence of the police is to assist the panel in resolving any matter before it and is willing to do so at any time.
Chairman of the Panel Justice Suleiman Galadima rtd commended the Police Counsel for willing to assist the panel to make their work easy.
While urging the police to keep to their promise and not to change their position the retired justice of the Supreme Court ordered Idachaba to ensure as a matter of necessity that Mr. Morris Ashwe is produced before the panel on the next adjourned date which is 24 of February 2021.
