A lawyer representing a petitioner before the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC)’s Independent Investigative Panel on the defunct SARS and other Police Units, on Monday, told the panel that over 500 days after being extra-judicially killed by the police, the remains of the petitioner’s brother were yet to be released to the family for burial.
The lawyer, I. J Mbatsaddue, sought the order of the panel for the release of the body at the resumed hearing of the petition filed by Abraham Nyamkwange, on behalf of his late brother, Simon Aondofa Nyamkwange, marked 2020/IIP-SARS/ABJ/142, alleging the extrajudicial killing of his brother.
The petitioner had joined the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Wise Zone 3 Police Station, Mamman Joseph Barakwai; IPO Ibrahim; Officer Aunde Peter; Officer Mrs Aunde; Vershima Zaki; Commissioner of Police FCT and the Inspector General of Police as respondents in the petition.
Mbatsaddue told Justice Suleiman Galadima (retd)-led panel that since the death of the late Simon Aondofa Nyamkwange, his remains were still at the Wuse General Hospital in Abuja.
According to him, “Several efforts, including writing letters, were made for the release of the corpse to be given a decent burial to no effect.”
On his part, the petitioner told the panel that the investigating police officer, who was the second respondent in the petition, did not allow him to have access to the mortuary to see the remains of his brother.
He added that he was, however, allowed to see the corpse of the deceased at the Wuse General Hospital by some senior officers.
When asked why the corpse had yet to be released to the family, counsel for the police, Fidelis Ogbobe informed that he was informed by the first respondent, who was the then DPO of Wuse 3 Division, that after it conducted investigation, the matter was transferred from the station to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command.
While adjourning the petition to November 12, 2021, the chairman of the panel, Justice Galadima (retd) directed Mbatsaddue to liaise with the counsel for the panel, Chima Obiagwu SAN and Ogbobe to ensure the release of the victim’s remains to the family.
The petitioner had stated in his petition before the panel that on April 22, 2020, he was informed of his deceased brother’s wife that her husband had been shot by the police at the Wuse Zone 3 Police Station.
He added that he went to the station in company with one Mr Dominic Organ and was asked to write a statement by IPO Ibrahim, who later informed them that he was shot dead at the Eterna Filing Station, Wuse 2 by SARS officers.
According to him, the IPO told him that as of the time the deceased was brought to the station he was still alive but he later bled to death and that the corpse had been deposited at the Wuse General Hospital, Abuja.
He added that when he met with the DPO, Barakwai, he was told that the deceased was shot by the police for challenging them at the filling station where there was an armed robbery attack.
Nyamkwange further stated that when they made an oral request for the release of the corpse for burial, they were turned down and were told to go and make a formal request at the FCT Command, where the family was told to get a lawyer to make such request.
He, therefore, sought the release of the deceased corpse for burial as well as payment of compensation to take care of his late brother’s widow and children.
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Over 500 days after killing petitioner’s brother, police yet to release corpse, lawyer tells NHRC SARS panel
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