The counsel representing some police personnel accused of extra-judicial killings and brutality, on Thursday stormed out of the venue of the hearing after realizing that about 50 judgements delivered by the Bayelsa State Judiciary Panel of Inquiry did not favour the Nigeria Police Force.
It was learnt that the council to Police, Barr. Zideme Gwegwe and a police personnel accused of killing a middle-aged man stormed out of the court, saying “we will appeal the case. Come and collect the compensation, let’s see.”
When pressed about the official reaction to the judgement, Barr Gwegwe ordered journalists to leave her alone, insisting “don’t record me. Don’t record me. There is no need.”
Nigerian Tribune further gathered that the panel on Thursday concluded its sitting, delivered 50 judgements, including three cases that were struck out in favour of the police.
While announcing the end of the panel’s assignment, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Emmanuel Ogola, advised that Nigeria Police to take the recommendations of the panel seriously and completely reform the force in order to regain public trust.
Justice Ogola further said “you cannot do a wrong thing and get away with it. When these crimes were committed, they didn’t know that one day they would be called upon to answer questions.
“Let me give you a case for example, the police accosted a young man in front of his house, forcing him to follow them to the station because he stayed out late in the night. The young man told them that he was taking fresh air in front of his house.
“But they insisted that he enters their vehicle or they would shoot him. When he insisted to know how he has disobeyed the law, in anger the police ordered him to jump into a river close to his house or they would kill him.
“The young man confessed to them that he has no swimming skills but they forced him into the river. That was how the man drowned and his body was discovered the next day. So you cannot commit an atrocity like this and get away with it. So I suggest the police be completely reformed.”
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