A former chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Onitsha Branch, Mr John Ifijeh, has called on the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to release the report of investigation into the allegations of extra-judicial killings, organ harvesting, high-handedness and corruption levelled against some senior police officers at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Awkuzu, Zone 13 Command in Ukpo-Dunukofia, Anambra State.
The immediate past IG, Usman Baba, had set up a special investigation team to investigate the allegations.
The Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on February 17 noted that the findings of the investigations would determine the next line of action, while promising that the police would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that justice was done in the case and sanctions meted to any officers found guilty.
Reacting to the development at a news conference in Onitsha on Friday, Ifijeh said the report should be released and adequate sanctions meted to any officer found guilty.
Ifijeh said the conference was a stakeholders’ engagement forum aimed at interfacing with victims and family members of those who died as a result of extra-judicial killings with a view to providing solution and justice.
Flanked by other members of the branch, he stated, “It is a serious concern to us that the report of the investigation panel set up by the immediate past IG on the allegations of extra-judicial killings in Anambra has not been released five months after it was constituted.
“We are calling on the current IG, Egbetokun, to as a matter of urgency release the findings of the investigations and ensure justice is done in the case and sanctions meted out to the culprits if found guilty accordingly.
“Releasing the panel report will ensure justice to the families of the victims who suffered these extra-judicial killings and ensure sanity in the force. We learnt that the indicted police officers have returned to work, it is not supposed to be so.”
He said the panel report should be released by the Police Service Commission to the media and the public to show that it would no longer be business as usual.
“A lot of people suffered victims and they are looking at the police for justice,” he added.
A family member of a victim, who identified himself as Uche Anozo, said, “We appeal to the new IGP to release the detailed report. My junior brother who just came back from abroad was framed up by the police as he was coming home and his account was drained.
“He was also detained for three days at Awkuzu SARS for no reason. The police promised to invite victims to come and testify, but we did not get any invitation. So, we are asking them to release the investigation they have carried out for justice to prevail.”
