Dankwambo shuns SARS panel over death of personal cook

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has again refused to
appear before the Presidential Investigation Panel on the Special
Anti-Robbery Squad over the death of one of his personal aides.

Chairman of the panel, also Executive Secretary of the National
Human Right Commission, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, said the governor refused
to honour the panels summonses, even when the governor was said to
have been in Abuja on Thursday.

Ojukwu said counsel to the governor knew that the panel was
rounding off but “decided to frustrate his coming.”

“You are only here to make excuses for him, he received the
option of fair hearing and he made his choice. The panel will
decide this matter on the merit and report on it,” Ojukwu told the
governor’s counsel, Mr. Audu Danbaki.

Dankwambo’s counsel had, earlier, told the panel that the
governor travelled outside the country on a scheduled flight and
could not honour the summons of the panel.

“He suggested that if he will be given any other date next week
he wouldn’t mind that he was not trying to be disrespectful to the
panel.

“He was here in Abuja for a meeting on Thursday but left to
catch his flight, “Danbaki told the panel.

He explained that it was the governor, who lodged the complaint
to the police in Kaduna.

Counsel to the petitioner, Ms Glora Ballson regretted the
reality of the value attached to human life in the country.

“We have tendered before the panel the fact which is clinical
and prayed the panel for justice on conclusion of the case on the
cruelty on John Okon, who died when he ought not to.”

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the petition was written by
Law Chambers of Mr. Sunny Olorunmola on behalf of one Mrs Okon over
the death of her husband Mr John Okon, who was a personal cook to
Dankwambo

Mrs. Okon alleged that her husband died as a result of injuries
sustained due to beatings and torture by men of SARS.

She further stated that he was in custody of the men of SARS
headed by one SP Jummai of the anti-crime department, Kaduna.

Okon said the problem started after a burglary at the Kaduna
residence of Dankwambo where the deceased was living with his
family.

“The deceased, who lived in the boys quarters of the governor’s
private residence in Kaduna woke up on November 8, 2018 to discover
that the house had been burgled and four theatre TV cinema sets
carted away by unidentified persons.

“The deceased, his wife and other domestic staff reported the
case at the Kabala Costain Police Station, where they were all
arrested.

“They were subsequently transferred to the state Police
Headquarters on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 for further investigation.

“My husband fell sick and died on Nov. 13 as he was being rushed
to Barau Diko General Hospital, Kaduna for medical attention,” she
said.

Ballson, counsel to the petitioner had earlier, brought a
pathologist, Dr Godwin Ayuba who performed autopsy on the deceased
to testify.

Dr. Iheanyichukwu Ogbonna, obstetrician and gynaecologist, who
served as an observer to the autopsy also testified.

NAN reports that the panel was set up by the Federal Government
to investigate the allegations of human rights abuses by the men of
Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The panel is to make useful recommendations to government on the
way forward.

(NAN)