#ENDSARS: FG’s Panel Commences Sitting In Abuja

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*How I was shot and abandoned by Police-Victim tells NHRC
probe Panel

The Independent Investigative Panel (IPP) on human rights
violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and
other Units of the Nigeria Police Force set up by the National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) held its inaugural sitting on
Tuesday.

NHRC’s Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, disclosed the panel has
extended the two- week window for submission of complaints, since
“complaints keep pouring into the commission every day for the
panel”,

Ojukwu said the extension was to ensure that Nigerians have
unhindered access to services of the panel.

“The closing date for submission of complaints will now be open.
It is noteworthy that as of date, the panel has received about 150
complaints of human rights violations against SARS and the police
from across FCT and the six geo-political zones,” he said.

Ojukwu clarified the relationship between the NHRC panel and
states’ panels of an inquiry being constituted by the 36 states

He said: “The state panel reports and recommendations will be
submitted to the NHRC IIP at Abuja, which will compile a single
report from the state’s recommendations for the implementation by
the federal government, and submit a single report as it relates to
matters within the competence of the federal government for
implementation.”

At its sitting, the panel heard the petition by an Abuja based
Estate Manager, Bello Akubuokwu, who gave details of how he was
allegedly shot and abandoned by men of the Nigeria Police Force
(NPF) in 2019.

Abubuokwu said the incident occurred on July 22, 2019, the day
Police clashed with protesting members of the Islamic Movement of
Nigeria, IMN, otherwise known as Shiite sect.

He added: “It happened on July 22, 2019, after I got a text
message from IBTC bank at Area 11 in Garki, to come and update my
records.

“From Mararaba where I stay, I stopped at the Court of Appeal to
connect to Garki through the Police Headquarters. That was in the
morning when people were going to work.

“Then I heard a bullet. I didn’t know what was happening but all
of a sudden I started feeling pain and blood started gushing
out.

“I asked what was happening and was told that Police were
shooting at Shiite members.

“I managed and dragged myself with the blood to the police
office but they didn’t allow me in. When I was there, they brought
a bucket of water that I poured on the wound.

“From there I was advised by passersby to go to the hospital. On
getting to Garki hospital, people with bullet wounds were too much
and there was no space.

“I was then directed to the National Hospital. When I initially
got there, I didn’t see many people with bullet wounds. But before
long, police brought more people in a truck that had various bullet
wounds.

“It became serious that I could not get bed space again. I was
however treated and I left.

“The following day at Mararaba, the left hand where the bullet
passed through had swollen up.

“The pain was so much and I could no longer go to the hospital,
so I arranged with a private medical practitioner close to my house
to be coming to my home to give me treatment.”

Akubuokwu said he was incapacitated for about two months owing
to the bullet wound on his left arm.

“I am an estate manager and it was not easy for me to go out to
fend for my family. The pain and suffering I went through was so
much.

“I could not afford the service of a lawyer then. I was
therefore very happy when I heard about this panel, so I decided to
bring my case for justice to be done to me.

“I want the panel to please look into my matter for justice to
prevail. At least to be compensated for the pain and trauma I
passed through”.

Akubuokwu’s lawyer, Frank Tietie, applied for prompt and
adequate compensation for the injury his client suffered.

Tietie equally tendered documents in evidence that included
medical report from the National Hospital in Abuja, the index card
of the victim, prescriptions that were given to him, as well as his
medical bill.

He told the 11-man panel his client wants financial compensation
to the tune of N25million for the injury, loss of earnings and
trauma he passed through.

Upon further questioning by members of the panel, Akubuokwu
insisted that the source of the stray bullet that hit him was from
men of the NPF.

“After I was hit by the bullet, the closest place I could run to
for safety was the Police secondary school close to the Force
Headquarters.

“When I got there I met some Mopol, they asked me what happened
and I told them that I was hit by a bullet. Though I passed through
the gate, the police officers did not allow me into their
office.

“Fortunately, from X-ray that was carried out by the National
Hospital, I was told that the bullet passed through my arm. It did
not lodge into my skin”.

Akubuokwu told the panel that as an Estate Manager and private
businessman, he makes over N200, 000 every month.

On whether officials of the National Hospital demanded a Police
report before he was treated, the victim answered in the
negative.

Meanwhile, the panel adopted all the documents that were annexed
to the hand-written petition dated October 26, and marked them as
exhibits A to G.

Chairman of the panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd),
subsequently adjourned the case till November 16 for the
continuation of hearing and for the Inspector General of Police
(IGP), who was listed as the sole respondent in the petition, to
enter defence.

The second petition listed for the day filed by Francis Ogbaji
against SARS, FCT Command, its former leader, ACP Mantu, State CID
FCT, Commissioner of Police FCT Command, and the IGP, was mentioned
but adjourned till November 17 for hearing.

The panel directed the petitioner to regularise his papers and
ensure that all the Respondents were served.

The police was not represented in the proceedings of
Wednesday.

The panel is expected to continue sitting on Wednesday.