The Independent Investigative Panel sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital has six months time frame to adjudicate petitions brought before it.
The panel was set up by the National Human Rights Commission to address alleged rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS, a unit of the Police.
Acting Chairman of the Panel, Dr.Garba Tetengi stated this when a counsel to a petitioner suggested that they be allowed to suggest date for their next case.
Mr. Tetengi overruled, stating that the panel was not a conventional court where such privileges were given, explaining that the panel was doing a national assignment with timely execution of mandates.
He was tortured
Meanwhile, the panel heard the case of an alleged inhuman, extortion and degrading treatment filed by a complainant, Mr. Henry Ezeani which avered that on the 30th of June, 2017 while waiting for an associate, two men in mufti who identified themselves as Police Officers arrested him without explaining reasons for the action.
According to him, he thought they were kidnappers because there was nothing to show they were security personnel aside an identity card he was not sure of.
Mr. Ezeani said having identified themselves as SARS officers at a Police station within the locality, they took him to their detention facility in Abuja where he was tortured.
He was not the target
According to him, the SARS Officers later informed him that he was not the target but he was arrested to disclose the whereabout of one, Mr. Chucks, a close friend to the complainant.
He prayed the Panel to ensure the officers involved were brought to book.
After listening to the petition the panel adjourned to March 17 for the continuation of the case.
Lateefah Ibrahim
