The Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct SARS and other Units of the Nigerian Police force has tasked the lead counsel to the police Mr. James Idachaba to align himself with the panel so as to arrive at the justice of all the petitions before the panel.
Garba Tetengi SAN who stood in for the chairman of the panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd) made this call in a case of alleged extortion, torture, cruel inhuman and degrading treatment brought before the panel by one John Alake.
Dr.Tegengi pointed out to the counsel that he has a duty to the cause of justice even though he is trying to defend his clients and that when he assists the panel in the cause of its duties; he has also helped the Nigerian Police.
Furthermore, Tetengi admonished Idachaba to align himself with the panel so as to realize the purpose for which the panel was set up in the first place.
However, the presiding panelist went ahead to commend the police counsel for previous cases settled and hope for the same in this matter.
Meanwhile, Mr. Idachaba has told the panel that he is willing to support the panel to come to a logical conclusion just as he brought to the knowledge of the panel that the complainant’s Lawyer went contrary to the decision of the panel which was for him to liaise with the police lawyer to ascertain the whereabouts of DSP Friday Binfa who the police said is now retired.
Idachaba promised to assist the panel stating that the case is all about the property which will be released to the complainant.
It will be recalled that the complainant was before the panel seeking for the enforcement of an order given by the federal high court in Abuja to pay him compensation to the tune of 15 million naira for alleged extortion, cruel inhuman and degrading treatment.
The petitioner had informed the panel that his three vehicles including three tankers and a Mercedes Benz were seized while he was being investigated over alleged financial impropriety.
Narrating further he told the panel how it all began, he was arrested by the officers of the defunct SARS a few years ago and that he was detained for three months and his three vehicles confiscated by the police and one of the vehicles is currently used by the police.
He told the panel that the judgment given in October 2020n in his favor was not obeyed till date.
In a related development the panel has struck out the case of alleged threat to life and abuse of office brought before it by one Oyemachi Stanley.
Calls were put across to him and he promised to get back to the Commission which he never did.
