This is a report of the twenty-eighth 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 Mediation Centre, Ministry of Justice Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Date: Tuesday, March 30, 2021.
Today’s sitting commenced at about 9:20am, shortly after the arrival of the panelists.
Petitions for Hearing at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
1. Case No. OYJPPB/018
The Family of Late Mrs Sakirat Olaegbe v Commissioner of Police, Oyo State. The family was represented by the deceased’s husband, Waheed Olaegbe and the deceased’s brother, John Obiyale. The family was also represented by Olamide Ojedokun (Esq.). Meanwhile, the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah.
Mr Ojeah, the respondent’s counsel said that he had been served with the processes of the petition but was yet to respond because the findings contained in the Mapo Police Station’s crime diary only showed a record of violence orchestrated by masquerades and there was no evidence that the deceased was shot by a SARS operative. He further said that the petition as submitted by the petitioner does not contain any information, which could attach the incident to the police.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel however decided to hear the petition in keeping with the right to fair hearing. With this, the principal witness to the petition was invited to the witness stand and he was sworn on the Quran.
The principal witness was Waheed Olaegbe, the deceased’s husband. He lives at (redacted) Ibadan. He is a labourer. He said that the petition against the unlawful killing of his wife, Mrs Sakirat Olaegbe, by SARS operatives, Dugbe Ibadan was written on his behalf by PRALAG, a non-governmental organisation.
The witness said that on the 16th of July, 2017 violence erupted during the Abidi-Elege Masquerade Festival at Popoyemoja near Olubadan Palace and the SARS officers at the scene shot sporadically. He said that a bullet fired by one of the SARS officers hit and killed his wife, Mrs Sakirat Olaegbe. He said the corpse was later taken to UCH, Ibadan for autopsy. He concluded that the deceased was released to the family for burial on the 18th of July, 2021. As at the time of the incident, the deceased was 42 years old and had given birth to five children. The witness therefore prayed the panel to investigate and punish the erring officer as well as compensate him with the sum of N5 million.
Thereafter, the petitioner’s counsel, Olumide Ojedokun (Esq.) tendered the relevant documents before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and the documents were admitted and marked as exhibits. Four photographs were admitted and marked as exhibit A1-A4, death certificate was marked as exhibit B, burial permit was marked exhibit C, sworn affidavit for the collection of the corpse was marked as exhibit D, death report to coroner was marked as exhibit E and the Nigeria Police Station diary was marked exhibit F.
Mr Ojeah, the respondent’s counsel and the Oyo State Judicial Panel members thereafter took turn to cross examine the principal witness. Mr Ojeah prayed the panel for an adjournment, in order to present relevant witnesses on the matter.
With this, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till April 20, 2021 for further hearing to enable Mr Ojeah, the respondent’s counsel, open his defence.
2. Case No. OYJPPB/027
Odoye Kanike Community v Unknown Hoodlums. The petitioners were present and were represented by Lekan Idowu (Esq.) and V. B. N. Ashien (Esq.). The petitioners were sworn on the Bible and the Quran, based on their religion.
The names of the petitioners who are residents in Odoye Kanike Community: Mrs Ajeyeoba Mercy Solola (Trader), Mrs Azeez Toyin, Mrs Azeez Oluwayemisi, Olawuyi Olatunji, Hammed Dahunsi, Iyabode Babatunde, Sakirudeen Oyedotun Akintoye, Ahmed Omotosho, Aderemi David, Ramota Idowu, Adeyemi Samuel, Alimat Hamzat (Cartographer), Adeleke Adekola, Akintunde Rukiyat, Sherifat Azeez, Anyawu Kemi (Proprietress), Ayuba Agoro, Omotayo Ahmed (Fashion Designer), Oyeyinka Abidoye (Fumigator), Mrs Fatima Adeyemi, Mr Michael Akinyande, Mrs Salewa Adeogun, Mr Gbadamosi Sikiru Olawale (Fashion Designer), Wasiu Akinyele, Adeoye Adejare (Casket Seller), Mrs Kentefe, Usman Wasiu, Mrs Ojedele Felicia (Fashion Designer), Mrs Onaolapo Jumoke, Mr Oyelakin Azeez, Ahmed Lukman, Akinyemi Family, Ogunsesan Awolope, Afolabi Mayowa, Mrs Olaniyan Ganiya (Wine Seller) and Adekunle Wasiu.
The petitioners had filed the petition against unknown hoodlums because some of their properties and valuables were burnt while some others were carted away by unknown hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest, which took place last year.
The petitioners told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that they would adopt the content of their submitted petitions and the application was granted by the panel.
With this, the Oyo State Judicial Panel members took turn to cross examine the petitioners based on the content of their petitions. The petitioners therefore prayed the government to grant their requests as contained in the petition.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel said that it would reach out to the petitioners at a later date after which recommendations would have been made, to the government.
Having gone through the proceedings for today, the hearing by the Oyo State Judicial Panel was brought to a close at about 5:24pm.