By Ameh Ochojila
Orders DNA test to ascertain child’s parent
The independent investigative panel on human rights violation by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), yesterday, adjourned four cases till November 1, 2021, for the adoption of written addresses.
Chaired by Justice Suleiman Galadima (rtd.), the panel sitting at the National Human Right Commission (NHRC), Abuja, had received a petition for the alleged extra-judicial killing of one Festus Idehen, brought against SARS of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Idehen family had requested the panel to grant the N200 million damages against the police for allegedly killing their member.
One Mustapha Buktar also brought a similar complaint of alleged unlawful arrest, detention, torture and inhuman treatment before the panel against the police.
In the cases marked 020/IIP/SARS/ABJ/130 and 2020/IIP/ SARS/ABJ/140, the complainants requested the panel to grant substantive orders against the police for various human right infractions.
Other complainants, Chinyere Igwetu and Ejiofor Umunna, had also petitioned SARS for alleged extra-judicial killing, torture, unlawful arrest and disobedience to court orders.
The complainants sought the relief of the panel to assuage the alleged infractions of human rights by the police.
After carefully listening to the arguments of the parties and adaption of written addresses, the panel adjourned the matters for reports.
Galadima adjourned the matter, which was brought by Victoria Agori against the police alleging unlawful arrest, till November 1 for adaption of addresses.
The panel chairman also, adjourned till November 1, the case marked: 2020/IIP/SARS/ABJ/30, 2020/IIP/SARS/ABJ/82 and 2020/IIP/SARS/ABJ/66, brought by Ifeanyi Cosmas, Elijah Tanko and Victoria Agori, alleging adoption and forced disappearance against the police, for adaption of written addresses by parties.
It also ordered an independent Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) investigation to determine the parent of a child in the alleged case of forced disappearance brought by Tanko.
