Ekiti panel recommends prosecution of SARS officer over killing of 18-year-old boy

The Ekiti State panel of inquiry into allegations of violations of human rights has recommended the prosecution of an officer with a defunct Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) for his alleged involvement in the killing of an 18-year-old boy, Seun Awoyemi in the state in 2014.

The panel headed by Justice Cornelius Akintayo (retd) ordered that the officer, Corporal Akinfolarin Festus should be prosecuted through the office of Ekiti State Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice.

The panel also recommended that the 70-year-old mother of the deceased, Mrs Abigail Awoyemi, be compensated with N1.5 million to cater for other members of the family.

The panel also recommended that the Police command should release the corpse of the deceased, for burial which was allegedly taken away from the scene of the crime by the SARS operatives.

In her petition before the panel, Mrs Awoyemi alleged that SARS operatives came into her residence on March 13, 2014, in Ado-Ekiti at about 12 noon, saying, ”Officers of SARS came into my house and dragged my grandson, Seun upon an allegation by a man, that Seun beat his son and while my younger sister was appealing to the Police Officers, she was hit by a bullet on her hand and died on the spot.

The petitioner’s counsel, Emmanuel Afolayan submitted that since the petitioner’s evidence was not challenged, his client’s case should be upheld and justice should be given appropriately.

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