The absence of the representatives of the police on
Monday stalled the sitting of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry
investigating the allegations of police brutality in Taraba
State.
At the first sitting held in Jalingo, the state capital, three
petitions were mentioned for hearing with their legal aides
present, but the police as defendants to the suit were absent.
During Monday’s session, the Chairman of the panel, Justice
Christopher Awubra, considered the submission of the counsel to the
petitioners and noted the absence of the respondents and their
representatives.
He adjourned the hearing of the petitions to Wednesday for the
defendants to appear and defend the petitions against them.
“We have considered the submissions of counsels to the
petitioners and are mindful of the absence of the respondents and
their representatives if any.
“Counsel to the commission has urged the commission to oblige
for a further adjournment to enable the respondents or
representatives to appear and defend the petitions,” he said.
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According to Justice Awubra, justice will be better served when
all parties to the petitions are accorded adequate time to make
presentations to the hearing of the petitions.
“In this light, therefore, we are prone to allow for a further
adjournment in the interest of justice and these petitions are
further adjourned to the second day of December 2020 for hearing,”
he added.
Just like in other states, the Taraba State government set up
and inaugurated the panel to among other things, investigate the
allegations of police brutality.
This follows a nationwide protest by youths in many states
across Nigeria, which was later hijacked and triggered violence in
some parts of the country.
In the wake of the demonstration, the Federal Government bowed
to pressure to scrap the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) – a unit
of the Nigeria Police allegedly notorious for harassing and
extorting Nigerian youths.