Somtochukwu

OKOLI Agwu Abunike, a resident of Okokomaiko and father of five has narrated to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for victims of SARS-related abuses in Lagos State that he was detained for 48 days by two officers of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State governor had on October 19 inaugurated an 8-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality in Lagos.

While having the first sitting on Tuesday, four cases of police brutality were mentioned before the panel led by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi but only that of Abunike was heard by the panel.

Abunike in the first hearing with petition number LASG/JPI/01/2020 said Inspector Sunday and ASP Haruna allegedly arrested him, detained and tortured him on the orders of his boss who had accused him of fraud.

He further said the SARS did not only detained him for 48 days but also sold his properties, thereby making him impoverished and dehumanized, adding that he now runs all kinds of errands in order to feed his family.

“I worked for a company for four and a half years as a manager. After my resignation, my boss invited me for the authentication of my resignation. When I got there, my boss had me arrested by police officers from Ojo police station.

“I was later taken to Ikeja police command where I was manhandled and brutalized by Inspector Sunday popularly known as Baba Ijapa and ASP Haruna. I was labeled a fraudster and was beaten, severely injured, dehumanized and dragged all around Alaba International Market. I was also taken to my church and disgraced before the congregation for an offence I knew nothing about,” says Abunike.

The father of five said the SARS who were acting on the instruction of his boss detained him, seized his house, sold his car and even refused to yield to the court ruling that asked them to pay him N10 million.

“I was detained for 48 days and a bucket filled with cement was strapped at my back. I had bruise all over my body and two of my teeth were removed. The officers beat my wife and mother and they threatened to kill me if I did not confess to embezzling my company’s fund.

“They took all my property. They seized my house and sold my car to make up for the money they said I had embezzled. My boss also threatened to kill me if I did not pay back all the money I stole. The case was taken before Hon Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court and he awarded a damage of N10m against the police. But between 2016 and 2020, I have not seen anything. They have not complied with the judgment.

“They sold my land and car. In fact, the person the land was sold to dragged me before a Magistrate Court in Badagry and the Magistrate remanded me in Kpotopiri prison for three days for my inability to meet up with N50,000 fine.

Abunike, however, appealed to the Lagos panel to compel the SARS to honour the court judgment and return all his properties to him.

“ I want to appeal to this honourable panel to compel the police to honour the judgment of the court and return all my property or pay the damage because I have lost everything that I now live in running errands for people to feed my family.”

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