The #EndSARS panel investigating cases of police brutality in Abuja on Monday summoned a police superintendent over an alleged enforced disappearance of a suspect arrested in 2019.
The panel ordered Chinedu Okonkwo, a member of the General Inspector of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IGP-IRT), to appear to provide information on the whereabouts of the suspect.
He issued the order after an assistant police superintendent, Paul Odey, testified Monday.
Odey said he was unable to provide information on the victim’s whereabouts because he was instructed by Okonkwo to turn the case over to another police officer who he said died last year.
The panel summoned Mr. Okonkwo to appear to testify about his role in the case.
A sister of the victim, Ebuka Aniegu, who requested the panel, said that IRT officers arrested her brother on May 10, 2019.
Testifying on March 8, 2022, the petitioner told the #EndSARS panel that her brother was about to move abroad when he was “illegally” arrested by police in Abuja in May 2019.
She claimed that Mr. Odey requested N1 million to free his brother.
“I informed him that I didn’t have that money,” he said.
Despite all efforts and hiring a lawyer, Aniegu said, Odey refused to release his brother.
She is asking for compensation of N500 million.
Police officer denies allegation
But testifying in panel on Monday, Odey denied any wrongdoing in his involvement in the case until the time he turned it over to another police officer. He also denied having asked the petitioner for one million naira to release his brother.
Odey told the panel that the victim was arrested in connection with an armed robbery and rape case reported to his office on May 20, 2019.
He said the report was submitted to the IRT by the Trademore Police Station Divisional Police Office (DPO), Lugbe, after receiving a complaint from Peter Ogunmola and nine others.
“The DPO recovered the phone of one of the gang members who allegedly carried out the operation and referred the case to my office,” Odey said.
Further investigations, he said, led to the arrest of Tochukwu Otu, who is said to be the owner of the recovered phone.
He said the suspect, during questioning, confessed to the allegations and mentioned other gang members, including Ebuka Aniegu, the victim who was the subject of the petition before the panel.
According to him, four gang members were arrested.
He said he was later instructed by Abba Kyari, then IRT commander, through Chinedu Okonkwo, (who was summoned by the panel on Monday), to turn the case over to John Onyenma, deputy superintendent of police (DSP).
He said that Mr. Onyenma died last year.
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Responding to questions from panel members under questioning, Odey said the transfer of the case to Onyenma was recorded in the station’s action log.
He also submitted documents to support his claim.
panel cross-examination
Before adjourning the matter, Garba Tetengi, who acted as chairman of the panel on Monday, ordered that Mr. Onyenma’s death certificate be produced before the panel.
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The panel also asked the police attorney to find out who the case was transferred to.
The panel then ordered Mr. Okonkwo to appear before the panel on the next adjourned date.
The case was postponed until March 24 for the continuation of the defense by the police.