This is a report of the sixteenth public hearing of the Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Police Brutality, Violation of Rights of Citizens and Unlawful Killings in Oyo State.
Venue: The House of Chiefs, Oyo State House of Assembly, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Date: Tuesday, March 2, 2021.
Today’s sitting commenced at about 9:26am, shortly after the arrival of the panelists.
Cases at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
1. Case No. OYJPPB/015
Kamaldeen Hassan v The Area Commander, Nigeria Police Ogbomoso. The petitioner was absent and was not represented by a legal counsel. CSP Funke Fawole appeared on behalf of the respondent. The Police Officer in Charge Legal, CSP Fawole said that she had been served but there was an additional file that she had intended to add to what had been prepared.
The legal counsel to the Oyo State Judicial Panel, Mrs Oluwafolake Ogundele said that the matter had appeared before the panel for the third time and the petitioner was absent on the three occasions. She however said that the petitioner was represented by a counsel the first time the petition appeared, before the panel.
Subject to the convenience of the Oyo State Judicial Panel, the petition was adjourned till March 25, 2021 for hearing or striking out. The panel also ordered that a fresh hearing notice be issued and served on the petitioner and his counsel.
2. Case No. OYJPPB/016
Hon. Ojo Samson Bamidele v Commissioner of Police, Oyo State. The petitioner was present but was not represented by a legal counsel. Meanwhile, CSP Funke Fawole represented the respondent.
CSP Fawole, the Police Officer in Charge Legal told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that she had succeeded in locating Mr Oloye, an officer who was mentioned in the petition and that he confirmed that the petitioner’s car was recovered in Lagos. She told the panel that she had set up a meeting with the police officer after which they will both visit the panelists at the secretariat on Thursday, in order to inform them of their findings.
However, Hon Babatunde Oduyoye; a member of the Oyo State Judicial Panel said that there was a press release from Lagos State Police Command calling on all Nigerians who have exhibit cars and items parked at various police formations across the city to come forward with immediate effect within the period of 14 days, after which the command would be left with the option of selling off the cars and items on monthly auction after due court process. He therefore appealed to the petitioner to comply with the directive in the press release and go to the appropriate police command in Lagos.
The petition was therefore adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 25, 2021 for mention.
3. Case No. OYJPPB/017
The Family of Late Abass Lawal Adekoya v Commissioner of Police, Oyo State. The family was represented by Lawal Alimat and Olumide Ojedokun (Esq.), who appeared as the petitioner’s counsel. CSP Funke Fawole maintained appearance on behalf of the respondent. CSP Fawole, the Police Officer in Charge Legal, told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that she had been served but would file a response before the close of work today.
Subject to the convenience of the Oyo State Judicial Panel, the petition was adjourned till March 25, 2021 for hearing. The panel also ordered that all the necessary responses be filed before the adjourned date.
4. Case No. OYJPPB/018
The Family of Late Mrs Sakirat Olaegbe v Commissioner of Police, Oyo State. The family was represented by Olaegbe Awanat and Ojedokun Olumide (Esq.), who appeared as the petitioner’s counsel. Meanwhile, CSP Funke Fawole appeared on behalf of the respondent.
CSP Fawole, the Police Officer in Charge Legal told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that she had been served but was yet to file a response because there was an additional file she had intended to include in the response.
At the request of both counsels, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 30, 2021 for definite hearing.
5. Case No. OYJPPB/019
Mr Sesan Opadotun v Commissioner of Police, Oyo State. Olorode Oluwaseun appeared on behalf of the petitioner. The petitioner was also represented by a legal counsel, Oyedeji Mosebolatan (Esq.). CSP Funke Fawole maintained appearance on behalf of the respondent.
Olorode Oluwaseun, the petitioner’s representative told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that the petitioner was critically ill as he cannot walk or urinate anymore and might have passed on before he got home because there was no money to take him to UCH where he was undergoing treatment, and that he had stopped taking medication for a long time.
With this, the Oyo State Judicial Panel reached out to the Commissioner for Health and an ambulance was immediately provided to convey the petitioner from his home to a hospital at Ring Road, where he would be adequately taken care of.
Subject to the convenience of the Oyo State Judicial Panel, the petition was adjourned till March 25, 2021 for mention.
6. Case No. OYJPPB/020
Mr Akinlabi Moruf v Commissioner of Police, Oyo State. The petitioner was present and was represented by Olumide Ojedokun (Esq.). Meanwhile, CSP Funke Fawole represented the respondent.
Olumide Ojedokun (Esq.), the petitioner’s counsel told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that he had been served with the respondent’s response but there was a subsisting judgement of the Oyo State High Court on the said matter. He further said that since the prayer is the same, the petitioner wished to withdraw the petition, in order to enforce the subsisting judgement.
With this, petition OYJPPB/020 was struck out by the Oyo State Judicial Panel.
7. Case No. OYJPPB/031
The Family of Orelope Bashit Olaide v The Nigeria Police, Igana Area Command. The family was represented by Olatunji Waheed Orelope but was not represented by a legal counsel. CSP Funke Fawole represented the respondent.
The petitioner’s representative, Olatunji Orelope told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that he had obtained the services of Barr. Lanre Ajayi who was absent at the hearing today because he had a case at the regular court.
CSP Fawole, the Police Officer in Charge Legal stated that she had nothing to file as a response because she went to the Igana Area Command in person but was told that the police reached out to the petitioner’s family to ask of his whereabouts after the petitioner stopped coming to work, without any excuse from duty or a report that he was ill.
Hon Justice Badejoko Adeniji however said that regardless of the fact that the response was not made available by the respondent, the petition would be heard. With this, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 31, 2021 for hearing.
8. Case No. OYJPPB/058
Comrade Sulaimon Adeniyi & Anor v The Nigeria Police, Intelligence Response Team Abuja. The petitioners were present but not represented by a legal counsel at the hearing today. Meanwhile, the respondent was not represented.
The petitioners told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that their legal counsel, W. A. Lamidi was absent because he had a case at the State High Court at Iyaganku.
Mrs Oluwafolake Ogundele, the legal counsel to the Oyo State Judicial Panel stated that she had served the respondent with the processes of the petition through the courier services but there had been no appearance in spite of being served with the processes.
The petition was therefore adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 24, 2021 for hearing.
9. Case No. OYJPPB/084
Prof. Olumuyiwa Okunbena v The Nigeria Police, Intelligence Response Team Abuja. The petitioner was present but was not represented by a legal counsel as he chose to represent himself. Meanwhile, the respondent was absent at the hearing.
The petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 24, 2021 for hearing.
10. Case No. OYJPPB/014
Suleman Kehinde v The Area Commander, Nigeria Police Ogbomoso. The petitioner was absent but was represented by Olutomiwa Fadeyi (Esq.) who held the brief for Lukman Akanbi (Esq.). Meanwhile, CSP Funke Fawole maintained appearance on behalf of the respondent.
Olutomiwa Fadeyi (Esq.), who held the brief for the petitioner’s counsel told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that Lukman Akanbi (Esq.) was out of town and he therefore pleaded that the panel adjourn the petition.
The petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 31, 2021 for hearing or striking out.
11. Case No. OYJPPB/010
Lance Corporal Adeborijo Adebayo Samuel v The Nigeria Police, Intelligence Response Team Abuja. The petitioner was present and also represented by A. J. Adesokan (Esq.) who held the brief on behalf of C. M. Wanche (Esq.). The respondent was absent at the hearing today.
A. J. Adesokan (Esq.) had said that the petition was slated for hearing today but prayed for an adjournment to a shorter date due to the absence of the petitioner’s counsel, who was absent as a result of issues with his flight.
The petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 24, 2021 for definite hearing. The Oyo State Judicial Panel also ordered that a fresh hearing notice be issued and served on the respondent.
12. Case No. OYJPPB/056
Kehinde Omotosho’s Family v The Nigeria Police, CID Ibadan. Omotosho Ademola appeared on behalf of the family. The family was also represented by Toyese Owoade (Esq.) and O. O. Fabinu. CSP Funke Fawole maintained appearance on behalf of the respondent.
Toyese Owoade (Esq.) however told the panel that though the petition was fixed for hearing today, he was served with the respondent’s response this morning. He therefore prayed for an adjournment to enable him go through the response.
With this, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 23, 2021 for definite hearing.
The Chairperson of the Oyo State Judicial Panel, Hon Justice Badejoko Adeniji restated that the panel is not expected to indict anybody but to hear the petitions, form opinions as well as make recommendations to the government. Having gone through the proceedings for today, the hearing was brought to a close at about 11:31am.