This is a report of the seventeenth 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: Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
Today’s sitting commenced at about 9:34am, shortly after the arrival of the panelists. A total of six cases appeared before the Oyo State Judicial Panel for mention and three cases for hearing.
Cases at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
1. Case No. OYJPPB/027
Odoye Kanike Community v Unknown Protesters. The petitioner was present and represented by V. P. Ashien (Esq.). The petitioner’s counsel told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that he was instructed at the last sitting to draft out a more comprehensive petition but unfortunately he was yet to do so. He therefore prayed the panel for an adjournment.
Subject to the convenience of the Oyo State Judicial Panel, the petition was adjourned till March 30 and April 1, 2021 for definite hearing.
2. Case No. OYJPPB/029
Alhaji Olayiwola Sulu & Anor v Inspector-General of Police and Four Others. The petitioner was present and represented by Oluwatobi O. Fatoki (Esq.). However, the respondents were absent.
The petitioner’s counsel, Oluwatobi O. Fatoki (Esq.) told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that he had regularised the petition as ordered by the panel at the last sitting and therefore sought to withdraw the petition dated November 27, 2020 and instead substitute it with the petition dated February 24, 2021.
The petition dated November 27, 2020 was thereby struck out and the petition was adjourned till March 24, 2021 for mention. The Oyo State Judicial Panel ordered that a fresh hearing notice be issued and served on the respondents.
3. Case No. OYJPPB/060
Comrade Segun Ogundepo v The Nigeria Police, Agugu Division. The petitioner was present but was not represented by a legal counsel because he was indisposed. Meanwhile, Inspector B. K. Olorukooba held the brief of CSP Funke Fawole on behalf of the respondent.
The respondent’s counsel, Inspector Olorukooba told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that the response was yet to be filed because the case file had just been received from Agugu Division but promised to do the needful before the next adjourned date.
However, the Oyo State Judicial Panel stated that at the last adjourned date which was February 17, 2021; the petitioner was represented by I. A. Etta (Esq.) and the Police Officer in Charge Legal, CSP Fawole had said that the response was ready and would be filed in due course but the petitioner’s counsel said he would like to react to the respondent’s response; hence the reason for the adjournment of the petition for mention. The panel therefore pointed out that the explanation given by Inspector Olorukooba was contrary to what was said at the last sitting.
In response, Inspector Olorukooba maintained that the response had not been filed but would do so before the next adjourned date.
Therefore, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till April 8, 2021 for definite hearing.
4. Case No. OYJPPB/078
The Family of Abdul-Qudus Agbolade v The Nigeria Police, Ojoo Division. The parent of the deceased, Agbolade Ahmed and Agbolade Serifat appeared on behalf of the family. The family was also represented by the Chairperson International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Oyo State Chapter, Deborah Oluyemisi Collins (Esq.) and Afolakemi Adeoba. Meanwhile, Inspector B. K. Olorukooba held the brief of CSP Funke Fawole for the respondent.
The petitioner’s counsel, Collins however recalled that CSP Fawole stated at the last adjourned date that she was yet to be served and the processes were immediately served on her with a promise that she was going to file a response before the next adjourned date but unfortunately, she was yet to file a response.
In response, Inspector Olorukooba said that the respondent had been served with the processes of the petition and a letter had been sent to the affected division to request for the case file in order for them to file a response to the petition. She therefore craved the Oyo State Judicial Panel’s indulgence for an adjourned date.
The petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till April 6, 2021 for definite hearing.
5. Case No. OYJPPB/079
The Family of Late Tosin Thomas v Oyo State Security Network (Amotekun). The family was represented by the deceased’s mother, Toyin Thomas and Ibironke Sadiq (Esq.). Meanwhile, the respondent was not represented at the hearing.
Ibironke Sadiq (Esq.) however told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that she was briefed about the petition upon enquiry at the office yesterday and was told that there was no proper petition before the panel. However, the panel said that the petition before it was acceptable but the petitioner’s counsel could make necessary adjustment if she so wishes.
Therefore, the petition was adjourned till April 7, 2021 for hearing. The Oyo State Judicial Panel also ordered that a fresh hearing notice should be issued and served on the respondent.
6. Case No. OYJPPB/080
The Family of Late Kabiru Arekemase v The Nigeria Police, SARS Dugbe. The petitioner was absent but was represented by S. O. Ogunjimi (Esq.) and O. A. Ojebisi. Meanwhile, Inspector B. K. Olorukooba (Esq.) held the brief of CSP Funke Fawole for the respondent.
Inspector Olorukooba, the respondent’s counsel said that she had been served with the processes of the petition but was yet to file a response. She said that the affected Division had been informed to furnish them with the case file in order for them to file a response. She further prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel for an adjournment with a promise that the response would be filed before the next adjourned date.
Subject to the convenience of the Oyo State Judicial Panel, the petition was adjourned till April 6, 2021 for hearing. The panel also ordered that the necessary response should be filed before the next adjourned date.
7. Case No. OYJPPB/001
The Families of Jimoh Isiaq, Moshood Ganiyu, Taiwo Adeoye and Pelumi Olatunji v Nigeria Police Area Command, Owode Ogbomoso. Jimoh Atanda, Ganiyu Amuda, Adeyemi Adeoye and Areo Oluwole appeared on behalf of the family. The family was also represented by Hussein Afolabi (Esq.). Inspector B. K. Olorukooba (Esq.) held the brief of CSP Funke Fawole for the respondent.
This petition was slated today for hearing but Inspector Olorukooba prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel for an adjournment because CSP Fawole didn’t hand over the files to her; as she said she would like to handle the petition herself.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel however expressed displeasure as the petition was adjourned till today for hearing because CSP Fawole said it was convenient for her. The panel therefore sent a strong signal to CSP Fawole that she must be at the next adjourned date as the petitioners traveled down to Ibadan from Ogbomoso and they risked their lives in the process.
Hon Justice Badejoko Adeniji, the Oyo State Judicial Panel’s chairperson emphasised that the panel had intended to speedily and diligently hear the matter at once and CSP Fawole’s absence was not fair on the petitioners because she was instrumental to choosing the date.
In response, Inspector Olorukooba apologised to the Oyo State Judicial Panel and promised that all files would be made available before the next adjourned date.
With this, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till April 8, 2021 for definite hearing.
8. Case No. OYJPPB/007
Emmanuel Olayiwola Oyedokun v Nigeria Police, Bodija Police Station and Iyana-Offa Police Station. The petitioner was present and was represented by Abiodun Akinmoyo (Esq.) and B. O Olatunji (Esq.). Meanwhile, Inspector B. K. Olorukooba held the brief of CSP Funke Fawole for the respondent.
Inspector Olorukooba, the respondent’s counsel adopted her earlier submission and the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till April 8, 2021 for hearing.
9. Case No. OYJPPB/077
Mrs Sumbo Salami v The Nigeria Police, Adelubi Station. The petitioner was present and represented by Afolakemi Adeoba (Esq.). Inspector B. K. Olorukooba held the brief of CSP Funke Fawole for the respondent.
Inspector Olorukooba, the respondent’s counsel adopted her last submission and the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till April 7, 2021 for definite hearing.
All three petitions slated today for hearing were re-adjourned due to the absence of the Police Counsel, CSP Funke Fawole. The Oyo State Judicial Panel thereby expressed displeasure about her absence and issued a note of warning that henceforth petitions would be heard as long as the petitioner was ready to prosecute the petition whether the respondent or response was available or not. Having gone through the proceedings for today, the hearing was brought to a close at about 11:51am.