• Investigates killings in other states
Following the nationwide outcry against police brutality with the #EndSARS protest, the Presidential Panel has on Saturday indicted 16 operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) for extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearance in five states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The five states are: Lagos, Delta, Enugu, Imo, and Kaduna.
While Inspector Akeem Balogun was indicted for murder, Inspector Ibukun Olusoga, and ASP Columbus were indicted for enforced disappearance, all in Lagos.
Seven officers were indicted for extrajudicial killings in Imo State, where it has the highest number of confirmed cases of violation of the right to life, unlawful arrest and detention, and threats to life.
The officers are: CSP Godfrey Ogbeide Victor (OC SARS, Imo); ASP Columbus Aniozor; Inspector Ndidi Nwaneri; Inspector Femi; ASP Banjoko (OC SARS, Akokowa, Imo State); Corporal Echara Alice; and Inspector Nwachukwu.
In Abuja, five officers were indicted for extrajudicial killings and refusal to release corpses of victims to bereaved family members.
The erring officers are: Sgt Nuhu Shuaibu; Inspector Augustine Nwobodo; Cpt Mohammed Tetengi, Inspector Dennis Matthew; and ASP Felix Onuoha.
In Enugu State, Sgt Paul Everest was indicted for alleged torture in custody leading to death while ASP Muyiwa was indicted for unlawful arrest, detention and extrajudicial killing in Delta State.
Inspector Yakubu Baba was indicted for torture, violation of the right to life and dignity of the human person in Kaduna State.
The report was submitted to the President, Muhammadu Buhari (retd), on June 3, 2019.
It was recently submitted to the Police Service Commission, the Inspector-General of Police and the office of the Attorney General of the Federation in the wake of the #EndSARS protests, for prosecution and disciplinary actions.
The report further indicted a total of 35 police operatives in 12 states for various rights violations. They are: harassment, unlawful intimidation, extrajudicial killings, unlawful arrest, death in police custody, biased investigation, criminal assault, torture, cruelty, inhuman and degrading treatment, threat to life, confiscation of property, and unlawful intimidation among others.
The 12 states are: Lagos, Aiwa Ibom, Benue, Delta, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Ogun, and Rivers and FCT.
The Presidential Panel has also called for the prosecution of the officers, which will begin on Monday.
