Representative of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr John Aikpokpo-Martin, on the Independent Investigative Panel into alleged human rights violations committed by officers of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and other units of the Nigerian Police, says the Force has fallen short of expectations since the panel was established.
Mr Aikpokpo-Martin was responding to allegations of arbitrary arrest, custody, and disappearance of one Mr Emeka Alozie.
He expressed concern that the police had not done enough to ensure that indicted officers appeared before the panel to defend themselves against such allegations, adding that the force was mocking the panel.
Mr Aikpokpo-Martin alleged that the police were unjust to Mr Alozie’s family and several other Nigerians whose loved ones were arrested and the force was unable to account for their whereabouts several years later.
Mr Alozie’s wife testified before the panel that 5 police officers invaded their Lagos home on the 15th of June 2017 and took her husband, their cars, and personal documents.
She said since then, despite petitions to the Inspector General of Police and court orders, the SARS operatives refused to disclose her husband’s whereabouts but instead boosted that to her that “they would waste her husband and that she should not bother reporting anything to anyone, organization, or court, as nothing would happen regardless of whether she did”.
Reporting by Bose Ijelekhai, editing by Saadatu Albashir