Ondo human rights lawyer drags NSCDC to court over death of suspect in custody

An Ondo State-based Human Right lawyer, Morakinyo Ogele, has dragged the Ondo State Command of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) before Akure High Court, over the death of a suspect, Razak Ahmed, in its custody.

The deceased, Ahmed was arrested by the men of the Ondo NSCDC for allegedly having carnal knowledge of his eight-year-old daughter but reportedly died after three days in the custody of the command.

The family of the deceased and the NSCDC have been trading blame over the death of the man, while the family maintained that the man was tortured to death during interrogation, the NSCDC officials said the suspect committed suicide while in their custody.

However, Ogele has approached the State High Court in Akure, demanding for justice for the deceased and his family, while he prayed the court to order the NSCDC to produce the officers involved in the arrest, detention and alleged torturing of the deceased.

The lawyer is also seeking an order from the court directing the Corps to hand over the officers to the police for proper investigation and prosecution of the culprits.

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Apart from this, Ogele is asking the court to order NSCDC to pay a sum of N500 million as damages to the family of Ahmed and asking the court to direct the security agency to subject all its officers to psychiatric test and stop them from torturing their suspects in order to obtain confessional statements.

In a 33-paragraphs affidavit, Ogele said he instituted the suit because “the family members of the deceased have been calling on human rights organisations to help them get justice.

“This is because NSCDC is trying to cover up this extrajudicial killing. They felt unconcerned about the gruesome act against the family of the deceased.

“Their spokesman declared that the man committed suicide in their custody without giving evidence. I think NSCDC is a security agency established to protect lives and properties in Nigeria. Its officers are not expected to take any life,” Ogele said.