In continuation of it’s hearing, the Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violation by the defunct SARS and other Units of the Nigeria Police force, has insisted that, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has access to the files and other relevant records at the Intelligence Response Team Unit (IRT).
Chairman of the Panel Justice Suleiman Galadima, Stated this in a case of alleged unlawful arrest and detention, torture cruel and inhuman, and degrading treatment brought against DCP Abba Kyari by the families of Yakubu Danjuma, Ibrahim Daniel, and Choji Dung .
The panel Chairman represented by Dr. Garba Tetengi, San, told the police counsel not to personalize the matter, as he posed a question to the police asking, “If Abba Kyari is not there, are they (the victims) not in police custody?”
According to Justice Galadima, “Police is an institution, which we all know, it is the umbrella organizations of all the officers and units working within the institution” Abba Kyari’s absence should not cripple investigations, meaning the police should be able to provide necessary information any time the need arises whether an officer is on duty or not.”
The Chairman, expressed disappointment at the actions of the police saying the police has again failed to comply with the order of the panel by not producing the alleged victims in their custody before the panel.
The panel has also, asked the police to go through its record at the IRT and stop being on the defensive.
Responding counsel to the police, DCP, James Idachacba, informed the panel to take judicial notice of the fact that they are not representing Abba Kyari, which informed the decision that he (Kyari) be summoned personally to appear and clear the air.
Idachaba told the panel that he (Abba Kyari ) was not in the custody of the police hence the inability of the police to extract information from him.
Reacting, counsel to the complainants S. I Ugo pleaded with the panel to impress on the police to produce the 3 persons in their custody.
He lamented that the police have been informed of the whereabouts of the victims, who are being detained at the Area 10 police station Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Recall that the panel had made an order on the eleventh of March 2022, directing the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to Produce DCP Abba Kyari before the panel on the twenty-second of March 2022 on a petition bothering on alleged disappearance of 3 persons namely Yakubu Danjuma, Ibrahim Daniel, and Choji Dung from the custody of the IGP IRT.
However, in response to that request, an administrative letter was written to the chairman of the panel by Abdullah Haruna, SAN, the counsel to Abba Kyari requesting that all petitions be made available to them to enable them study it and respond appropriately.
Meanwhile, they are requesting a period of 2 months to be able to respond adequately.
The panel has obliged them one week and has adjourned the matter to the thirtieth of March 2022.
Ime N
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