EndSARS panel Calls Out police Inspector and four others

In an order issued by an Independent Investigation panel, Inspector Paul Odey of the Intelligence Response Team of the Special Tactical Squad in Abuja has been ordered to appear before the panel to defend himself against the allegations leveled against him.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the order was issued in connection with an allegation of unlawful arrest, detention, and disappearance of one Ebuka Aniegu in May 2019 in a petition marked 2020/IIP-SARS/ABJ/202.

The suit also names as respondents the Officer Commanding, IRT, Tactical Squad, Abuja, the Officer Commanding, Defunct SARS, Abuja, the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, and the Inspector-General of Police.

A panel of the National Human Rights Commission is looking into allegations of human rights violations committed by the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other police units.

Following the failure of the police to produce the respondent, who is also the principal respondent, the order was issued by Mr Garba Tetengi, SAN, who represented the chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima (retired).

“Inspector Paul Odey is hereby ordered to appear before the panel, not only to defend himself, but to answer some questions relating to the whereabouts of the victim,” he ordered.

Mrs Nnenna Aniegu, the petitioner, had earlier informed the court that the victim was his younger brother, who was staying with her in Kaduna at the time.

During his stay in Abuja in May 2019, she claimed, her brother was preparing to leave for a trip abroad and was apprehended by the authorities.

Aniegu went on to say that it was at that point that she received a phone call from the first respondent, Odey, telling her to come to the Abattoir police station, where the victim had been taken, according to NAN.

When she arrived, she claimed that Odey demanded N1 million in exchange for the release of her brother.

She said, “I told him I don’t have such money and as I demanded for my brother’s offence he, Odey, said my brother stole.

“That’s not true, I know my brother; he is very intelligent and promising and wouldn’t do such thing,” she said.

According to NAN, she stated that she returned to Kaduna and that her family began looking for money, and that they eventually found the money and that she returned to Abuja.

She, on the other hand, claims that when she arrived in Abuja, Odey informed her that his brother had been taken to another location and that unless he was given money, he would not divulge the location.

She informed the panel that she had requested permission from Odey to hire an attorney who would be present when the money was distributed.

“I brought a lawyer and it was recorded, the money was not given because Odey failed to produce my brother.

“I want the panel to help me ask the Inspector to produce my brother and pay compensation of N500 million.

“I prefer he produces him alive to the compensation.

“Inspector Odey must be produced and be prosecuted,” she pleaded.

Mr Ifeanyi Agu, her attorney, then informed the panel that he had concluded his client’s case.

Mr Kenneth Ogbuchuwa, counsel for the police, informed the panel that they would send a signal to the respondents before the next adjourned date was scheduled.

The matter was then postponed until March 8 to allow for further consideration.