NHRC writes Dankwambo over domestic staff’s death

The National Human Rights Commission ( NHRC ) has asked the
Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo to assist it with
information in relation to circumstances leading to the death of
one the governor’s domestic staff, John Okon.

The NHRC’s panel investigating activities of the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, on Wednesday
resolved to write the Gombe Governor to among others, help identify
his Aide de Camp (ADC), who allegedly instigated the torture and
eventual murder of Okon in the custody of SARS operatives at the
Gabassa Police Station, Kaduna.

The panel took the decision during the hearing of a petition
submitted to it by lawyer to the late Okon Ballason Gloria
Mabeiam.

The panel took evidence from the deceased’s wife, Joy (who
attended with her two young children and an aged mother); Inspector
Yakubu (who was accused of participating in the torture of Okon)
and two medical experts who conducted an autopsy on Okon’s
corpse.

Okon was said to be one of “a personal cook and housekeeper to
Governor Dankwanbo at his Kaduna residence.” He was said to reside
in the boys quarters of the house until November 8, 2018, when the
house was burgled and four television sets allegedly stolen.

The incident was first reported at the Kabala Coustain Police
Station, where Okon, two policemen, two private security guards and
a gardener (all six men) were detained.

It was alleged that upon the instigation of an ADC to the
governor, the case was transferred to SARS at Gabasawa Police
Station, Kaduna, where Okon was allegedly tortured to death by men
of SARS.

Testifying Joy (who struggled to hold back tears and the
persistent cry of her baby) ) told the panel how her late husband
was beaten, dragged on the floor and denied access to food and
water by the policemen, who detained him for several days.

He identified Inspector Yakubu as one of those who tortured her
husband, an allegation the policeman denied when called to
testify.

Yakubu stunned all when he claimed that the other five men
detained with Okon were charged to court, even when there was no
evidence against them.

He said the decision to charge the other five was informed by a
directive by their Commanding Officer, Supol Jummai.

When told that in one of the documents submitted to the panel,
the police had claimed Okon confessed that he committed the offence
with one other person, Yakubu insisted that it was Jummai that
directed that the others be charged to court.

Two medical experts who came to submit report of the autopsy
conducted on Okon, said injuries and bruises he sustained while in
Police custody contributed to his death.

Earlier, the panel also resolved to invite ex-Interior Minister,
Abbah Moro to appear on January 21 this year.

Moro was accused of authoring a petition, upon which men of SARS
invaded Iwewe Community in Benue State and allegedly subjected them
to “unlawful arrest, detention and extortion.”

The allegation against Moro came to light when, at the hearing
of a petition by members of the Iwewe Community (marked:
NHRC/PSARS/2018/ABJ/17/7924/HQ), some policemen who came to
testify, claimed the petition on which they acted, was authored by
the ex-Minister.