The independent investigative panel on rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other police units set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on Tuesday, directed the police to show cause why they have failed to obey its orders in a petition filed by Mrs Nnena Alozie on an alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of her husband by SARS operatives.
The panel gave the directive as it resumed sitting after it adjourned indefinitely on December 23, 2021, when the NHRC paid a compensation of N146 million to 27 police brutality victims.
Alozie had in her petition before the panel, marked 2020/IIP/-SARS/ABJ/73, alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of her husband, John Emeka Alozie, by SARS operatives, which has ASP Obiozor of the defunct SARS Awkuzu, Anambra State; Uzi Emeana; Sunday Okpe, Anambra State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector General of Police as respondents.
At today’s sitting, counsel for the respondents, Kenneth Ogbochua, told the panel that the respondents were absent and asked for an adjournment.
Counsel for the panel, Chino Obiagwu SAN, however, informed that at the last sitting on the petition, the panel issues some orders which the police were yet to comply with.
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While adjourning further hearing in the petition to March 7, a member of the panel, Garba Tetengi SAN, who acted as chairman in the absence of the chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima (retd), directed the police to show cause why they are yet to obey the panel’s orders given on December 2, 2021.
The panel had ordered the police to produce the petitioner’s husband as well as produce the two vehicles, a Lexus and a Ford, the briefcase and documents taken away from the residence of the petitioner on June 15, 2017, when Alozie was arrested.
The panel further ordered that the police must produce before it all the officers mentioned by the petitioner in her petition.
Mrs Alozie had on December 2, 2021, narrated how six SARS operatives stormed their residence at Lekki, Lagos, on June 15, 2017, and took away her husband without telling her what his offence was.
She informed that she later got to know that her husband was arrested for his involvement in an alleged kidnapping in the course of searching everywhere for her husband and the reason for his arrest.
Alozie, however, told the panel: “Since the day they arrested my husband, I have neither seen him nor known his whereabouts.”
She alleged that apart from arresting her husband, the SARS operatives ransacked their bedroom and went away with some of their personal belongings, including certificates and other documents, as well as money found in the house and keys to their two cars, a Lexus and a Ford, packed in their compound.
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NHRC panel directs police to show cause for disobedience to orders
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