The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up to look into brutality and high handedness by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday continued its sitting.
The first case to be heard by the panel was that of a couple, Okechukwu Obechina and Nzube Obechina.
Mrs Nzube Obiechina during her first appearance before the panel on October 31st said she lost her two-month pregnancy while being detained for 22 days at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Ikeja, Lagos State.
During cross-examination, Legal Officer, Intelligence Response Team, Nosa Uhumwango picked holes in the testimony of Mrs Obiechina, saying there are contradictions in her statement and her testimonies.
Nzugbe, however, made a rebuttal. She insisted that she was not released on the same day as her husband. She was held for a week until her husband could borrow money for bail. She also insisted that the officers who arrested and detained her were aware that she was pregnant.
“They were all aware that I was pregnant,” Nzugbe told the panel.
The legal officer later tried to dismiss Nzugbe’s claim that she lost a pregnancy. This was objected by Counsel to the petitioner, Ridwan Oke.
The objection was sustained.
The Legal Officer, Intelligence Response Team said there was no torture, but a court already established there was.
The chairman of the panel, Retired Justice Doris Okuwobi later told Legal Officer, Intelligence Response Team, to focus and not relitigate an issue that has already been decided by the court.
Subsequently, the case was adjourned, and another case called.
– First Sitting –
The judicial panel had its first sitting on Tuesday, 27 October.
The sitting commenced with the swearing-in of Rinu Odulala and Temitope Majekodunmi as representatives of youths on the panel.
Also, sworn-in as a member of the panel is Lucas Koyejo representing the Nigeria Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
The only petitioner taken on the first day of the sitting was Okoli Aguwu. He explained that he spent 47 days in SARS detention, accused of theft by his boss.
Agwu demands compensation from the Nigeria Police and wants his stolen properties returned.
