Lawyer petitions IG over death of NIS officer in detention

A lawyer, Daniel Makolo has asked the Inspector-General of
Police, Ibrahim Idris, to probe the death of Luka Andrew in custody
of the Nigeria Immigration Service, saying he was tortured.

Andrew, an immigration officer was said to have been arrested by
the police for being in possession of ammunition, but he was later
released to the NIS in whose custody he died shortly after.

Makolo, who is also an immigration officer, stated that the
deceased was healthy when he was released to the NIS last month,
adding that he died as a result of injuries he suffered from
torture by the NIS personnel.

An autopsy report made available to our correspondent on
Wednesday indicated that Andrew suffered “cardiopulmonary arrest
caused by acute kidney injury.”

The autopsy report signed by Dr. D. M. Yasika of the University
of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, said the immigration
officer died on August 4, 2017.

Makolo in his petition dated August 28, contended that Andrew
was not given fair hearing while in ‘NIS detention,’ alleging that
he was denied access to his family, food and medication while being
tortured.

The petition read, “While police investigation was going on, the
Nigeria Immigration Service Comptroller-General, Muhammed Babandede
requested the police to release the suspect and thereafter, it is
on record that the service took him healthy into detention
camp.

“There is need to investigate the service and cause an
independent audit of NIS arms and ammunition found with the
deceased by the police for which he was arrested, detained and
subsequently released to his ultimate demise.”

The lawyer accused the NIS of detaining individuals without
court orders, stressing that this is against any known law in the
country.

The NIS officer also accused the service of hounding him over
baseless allegations, adding that his efforts to get justice had
proved abortive.

The NIS spokesman, Sunday James, in his reaction said the
service was handling the matter through its legal department.

“Let’s leave this issue (Andrew’s death) to the justification of
the legal system that is operating in this country where every
issue is being tabled; Let decision be taken by those who are
appropriately responsible for it,” he said.

A lawyer, Daniel Makolo has asked the Inspector-General of
Police, Ibrahim Idris, to probe the death of Luka Andrew in custody
of the Nigeria Immigration Service, saying he was
tortured.

Andrew, an immigration officer was said to have been arrested by
the police for being in possession of ammunition, but he was later
released to the NIS in whose custody he died shortly after.

Makolo, who is also an immigration officer, stated that the
deceased was healthy when he was released to the NIS last month,
adding that he died as a result of injuries he suffered from
torture by the NIS personnel.

An autopsy report made available to our correspondent on
Wednesday indicated that Andrew suffered “cardiopulmonary arrest
caused by acute kidney injury.”

The autopsy report signed by Dr. D. M. Yasika of the University
of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, said the immigration
officer died on August 4, 2017.

Makolo in his petition dated August 28, contended that Andrew
was not given fair hearing while in ‘NIS detention,’ alleging that
he was denied access to his family, food and medication while being
tortured.

The petition read, “While police investigation was going on, the
Nigeria Immigration Service Comptroller-General, Muhammed Babandede
requested the police to release the suspect and thereafter, it is
on record that the service took him healthy into detention
camp.

“There is need to investigate the service and cause an
independent audit of NIS arms and ammunition found with the
deceased by the police for which he was arrested, detained and
subsequently released to his ultimate demise.”

The lawyer accused the NIS of detaining individuals without
court orders, stressing that this is against any known law in the
country.

The NIS officer also accused the service of hounding him over
baseless allegations, adding that his efforts to get justice had
proved abortive.

The NIS spokesman, Sunday James, in his reaction said the
service was handling the matter through its legal department.

“Let’s leave this issue (Andrew’s death) to the justification of
the legal system that is operating in this country where every
issue is being tabled; Let decision be taken by those who are
appropriately responsible for it,” he said.