A petitioner, Julius Kyoon, before the Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police narrated how the police unlawfully detained him for 48 days while denying him access to his medication.
In 2019, Julius Kyoon, a businessman who is into rice processing, recounted how the first respondents, Emmanuel Chimaroke a personnel of DSS, purportedly arrested him in Adikpo, Kwande local government area, in Benue state that he was part of a syndicate that specialise in repacking foreign rice in locally manufactured bags, which turned out to be false.
Led by his Counsel, Oyinlola Osimade, Kyoon said the incident led to the beginning of business partnership between himself and Emmanuel Chimaroke.
On 22nd November, 2019 according to Julius Kyoon, Chimaroke ordered for 32 bags of rice at the cost of N640,000.
He alleged that after supplying the rice , Chimaroke at first instance paid N200,000,then subsequently paid the rest of the money in bits.
Continuing his narration before the Chairman of the Panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima(retd) Julius Kyoon said on the 26th May,2020 Chimaroke made an order of 600bags of rice at the cost of N1,020,000. However he claimed that he could only deliver 141 bags out of the 600bags.
Despite assurances to deliver, on 2nd June,2020 Chimaroke lodged complaint against him of breach of contract and he was subsequently arrested and detained at “A” Division in Lafia, Nasarawa state .
With his release he signed an undertaking that he will deliver the remaining bags of rice within 2 weeks.
However, he failed to deliver and Chimaroke lodged another complaint with the Inspector General Police Intelligence Response Team(IGP-IRT) unit and he was rearrested on 30th June,2020 by operatives of this unit and he was immediately taken to Abuja and detained, and later released on the 7th July 2020,after signing another undertaking.
According to Julius Kyoon he was arrested again on 25th September 2020 and he was detained till 19th October 2020.
The petitioner lamented all the time he was unlawfully detained he had no access to his medication due to his health condition. And the police tried to extort N10, 000 from family members for every visit.
His prayer before the panel is he would want to be compensated in the sum of N20m and a public apology from the police.
The matter has been adjourned to 26th April,2021 for the appearance of the first respondent; Emmanuel Chimaroke.
Similarly in another petition before the panel, the Chairman has ordered the appearance of Alhaji Shuaibu Mai Atamfa and Alhaji Abbati Muhammad to throw more light on the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Alhaji Ya’u Mai Atamfa by the officers of Potiskum police station and his eventual death within 6 hours of his arrest.
One Officer Salamatu of Potiskum Police station is also to appear before the panel to answer to the alleged extrajudicial killing of Alhaji Yau Mai Atamfa.
The hearing has been adjourned for the witnesses and police respondents to appear 26th April,2021.
