Inspector Paul Odey of the Intelligence Response Team, Special Tactical Squad, Abuja, has been summoned before an independent investigation panel to defend himself against allegations leveled against him.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the order was issued in response to an allegation of unlawful arrest, detention, and disappearance of one Ebuka Aniegu in May 2019 in a petition marked 2020/IIP-SARS/ABJ/202.
Officer Commanding, IRT, Tactical Squad, Abuja, OC Defunct SARS, Abuja, Commissioner of Police FCT, and Inspector-General of Police are also named as respondents in the suit.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
The National Human Rights Commission panel is looking into allegations of human rights violations committed by the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other police units.
Following the failure of the police to produce the respondent, who is the principal respondent, Mr Garba Tetengi, SAN, who represented the chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima (retd.), issued the order.
“Inspector Paul Odey is hereby ordered to appear before the panel, not only to defend himself, but also to answer some questions about the victim’s whereabouts,” he said.
Mrs Nnenna Aniegu, the petitioner, had previously told the court that the victim was his younger brother, who was staying with her in Kaduna.
She claimed that her brother was preparing to travel abroad when he was apprehended by police in Abuja in May 2019.
Aniegu went on to say that it was at that point that she received a call from the first respondent, Odey, asking her to come to the Abattoir police station, where the victim had been taken.
When she arrived, Odey allegedly demanded N1 million to release her brother.
“I told him I didn’t have such money, and as I demanded for my brother’s offence, he, Odey, said my brother stole,” she explained.
“That’s not true; I know my brother; he’s very intelligent and promising and would never do something like that,” she said.
She stated that she returned to Kaduna and the family began looking for money, and that she eventually received the money and returned to Abuja.
She, on the other hand, claimed that when she arrived in Abuja, Odey informed her that his brother had been taken to another location and that unless he was given money, he would not tell her where he was.
She told the panel that she had asked Odey to allow her to hire a lawyer who would be present when the money was distributed.
“I brought a lawyer, and it was documented, but the money was not given because Odey failed to produce my brother.”
I want the panel to assist me in asking the Inspector to produce my brother and pay N500 million in compensation.
I’d rather he produces him alive to compensate.
“Inspector Odey must be apprehended and prosecuted,” she demanded.
Mr Ifeanyi Agu, her counsel, then informed the panel that he had concluded his case.
Mr Kenneth Ogbuchuwa, counsel for the police, told the panel that they would send a signal to the respondents before the next adjourned date.
The case was then postponed until March 8 for further proceedings.
