By Monday Osayande
A bereaved father, Christopher Okpuru, on Monday, narrated to the Delta State Judicial Panel on police brutality and extra-judicial killings on how his son was arrested by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) since August 2019 and his whereabout had remained unknown.
Okpuru revealed this when he appeared before the Justice Celestina Ogisi-led panel during the commencement of hearings from victims of police brutality and harassment in the state.
In the petition, Okpuru told the panel that his 31-year-old son, Councillor, was allegedly arrested and detained at the ‘B’ Division Asaba on trumped-up charges.
The victim’s father, who however, claimed he no longer know the whereabout of Mr Councilor, observed that he believed that his son was still alive.
While urging the panel to ensure justice is served on his son’s ordeal, explained that his son was arrested in Asaba on August 8, 2019 and had since then remained in police custody.
The deposed affidavit of the petitioner was admitted in evidence and marked Exhibit ASB 1.
Ukpuru further informed the panel that though he was not at the scene where his son was apprehended by the police, but a friend told him that his son was arrested and detailed at A division, Asaba.
Ukpuru, however, did not disclose the name of his friend but insisted that his son is in the custody of the police.
In his remark, the chairman of the Delta Judicial Panel, Justice Celestina Ogisi (rtd), assured the petitioner that the panel will serve justice for all during its three-month assignment.
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Justice Ogisi, however, said the panel was set for justice, advised the petitioner to put things right as his statements were not coordinated.
She thereafter adjoined the mattered till Tuesday, November 10, to avail the counsel to the petitioner, John Inyang, and his police counsel counterpart, F.N Oduna, to review the petition.
Meanwhile, in his inaugural speech, Justice Ogisi stated that “Thepanel will be fair to all those who bring their complaints before it by ensuring that Justice is not only done but manifestly seen to be done.”
The panel chairman stressed that justice would be done against bad elements in the Nigeria Police to reform and transform the system following its power under section 6 of the commission of inquiry Law Cap of the Delta State 2006.
She added that the rule of proceedings shall be enforced to guide the conduct of complaints before it.
While condemning the incessant cases of police brutality and extra-judicial killings across the country, the panel chair stressed, “We will unearth the human rights abuses of SARS where they exist, deliver justice to victims of human rights abuses, bring closure to grieving families and deal decisively with the culprits in the police force.
“Ultimately, we expect this exercise to bring a total reformation and transformation of the Nigeria Police Force for the good of the country. And never again will our people have to go through this type of abuse in the hand of those who are supposed to protect them.”
The inaugural sitting was attended by the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Peter Mrakpor, the state chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Nwabueze Ezeagwu and other members of the panel.
