This is a report of the forty-seventh 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, May 25, 2021.
Today’s sitting commenced at about 9:33am, shortly after the arrival of the Oyo State Judicial Panel members.
Petitions for Further Hearing at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
1. Case No. OYJPPB/007
Mr Olayiwola Oyedokun v Nigeria Police, Bodija Police Station and Iyana-Offa Police Station. The petitioner was absent and was not represented by a legal counsel. Meanwhile, the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah.
The respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that he had filed his response and was ready to present his witnesses before the panel since the petition was last adjourned to enable him open a defence.
However, due to the absence of the petitioner and his counsel, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till June 10, 2021 to enable the respondent open a defence.
2. 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 a legal counsel, Olumide Ojedokun (Esq.). While Mr M. A. Ojeah appeared on behalf of the respondent.
The petition was last adjourned to enable the respondent open a defence. However, the respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah said that his witness was not available because he was indisposed. He therefore prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel for an adjournment.
With that, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till June 2, 2021 to enable the respondent present a witness.
3. Case No. OYJPPB/018
The Family of Late Mrs Sakirat Olaegbe v Commissioner of Police, Oyo State. The family was represented by Awanat Olaegbe and a legal counsel, Olumide Ojedokun (Esq.). Meanwhile, Mr M. A. Ojeah maintained appearance on behalf of the respondent.
The petition was last adjourned to enable the respondent open a defence. However, Mr Ojeah, the respondent’s counsel said that he was at Mapo yesterday, to check on his witness but he was told that the witness was among the officers drafted to Abuja in respect of the incident that happened at Eruwa. He thereafter prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel for a short adjournment to enable him present his witness.
In response, Mr Ojedokun, the petitioner’s counsel opposed the respondent’s prayer because the petition had been adjourned on four different occasions and the respondent’s witness was never present.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel however said that the petition would be adjourned for the last time because all the parties involved in the petition must be given a fair hearing.
Thus, the petition was adjourned till June 2, 2021 for further hearing to enable the respondent open a defence. The Oyo State Judicial Panel also warned that the next adjournment would be the final one.
4. Case No. OYJPPB/043
Mr Afolabi Ayodamope v The Nigeria Police Force. The petitioner was present but was not represented by a legal counsel. While Mr M. A. Ojeah appeared on behalf of the respondent.
The petition was last adjourned to enable the petitioner’s aunt appear before the Oyo State Judicial Panel. However, Mr Ayodamope said that his aunt who treated him after he was released from the custody of the police, works at a community health center and would not be able to appear before the panel.
He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to inquire from Mr Ojeah if he had found anything untrue in the evidence he gave since he last appeared before the panel in February, in the course of his investigation. With that, he brought his case to a close.
In view of the fact that the petitioner had closed his case, the petition was adjourned till June 2, 2021 to enable the respondent open a defence.
Petitions for Hearing or Striking Out at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
5. Case No. OYJPPB/014
Mr Suleman Kehinde v The Area Commander, Nigeria Police Ogbomoso. The petitioner was absent and was not represented by a legal counsel. Meanwhile, the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah.
The petition was slated for hearing or striking out after the petitioner and his counsel had failed to appear before the Oyo State Judicial Panel on four different occasions.
In view of the fact that the petitioner and his counsel were absent, petition OYJPPB/014 was struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.
6. Case No. OYJPPB/015
Mr Kamaldeen Hassan v The Area Commander, Nigeria Police Ogbomoso. The petitioner was absent and was not represented by a legal counsel. Mr M. A. Ojeah maintained appearance on behalf of the respondent.
The petition was last adjourned for hearing or striking out after it had been adjourned on five different occasions and the petitioner was never present nor represented.
Due to the absence of the petitioner and his counsel, petition OYJPPB/015 was struck out for lack of diligent prosecution.
Petitions for Hearing at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
7. Case No. OYJPPB/039
Mr Olamide Onikosi v The Nigeria Police Force. The petitioner was present and was represented by Itunuoluwa Aderounmu (Esq.). While the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mr Aderounmu told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that the witness is his only relevant witness. With that, the petitioner was invited to the witness stand and was sworn on the Quran.
The name of the petitioner is Onikosi Olamide Suleiman. He resides at (redacted) Ibadan. He is a publisher and a Bolt driver. He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to adopt his written statement on oath dated April 20, 2021 as his evidence. He wrote to the Oyo State Judicial Panel because he was brutalised and victimised by the police.
He said that he was conveying his passengers from Moniya to Apata on the day of the incident. He that the incident happened at Aleshinloye Junction. He said that he was on the left carriage of the road but had to drive to the right side because a trailer was approaching him with full speed, and he was scared for his life.
He said that after the trailer had passed, one of the traffic wardens approached him to inquire why he had gone against the traffic rules. He said he explained what had happened to the officer and then drove to the left carriage of the road.
He said the police officers stationed at the junction approached and assaulted him. He said that one of the police officers smashed his wind screen and he made an attempt to record the scene with his Infinix Note 7. He said that the second police officer collected the phone, deleted the video and thereafter smashed the phone on the floor. He said that the screen of the phone broke as a result of that action.
He said that he was thereafter beaten by the police officers and the cloth he had put on, was torn in the process. He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to ensure that justice is served and also compensate him with the sum of N1 million for the physical, psychological and emotional hardship he suffered in the hands of the police as well as refund the N96,000 he had spent to repair his car.
At this point, Mr Aderounmu, the petitioner’s counsel tendered the relevant documents and photographs before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and they were marked and admitted as exhibits.
The petitioner was thereafter, cross examined by the respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah and the members of Oyo State Judicial Panel.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel ordered the petitioner to present the particulars of his vehicle to prove that his vehicle is not only registered with Bolt/Taxify/Uber but also with the government. The panel also ordered the petitioner to present the photocopies of his documents and ensure to certify them through the police, before the next adjourned date.
The petition was therefore adjourned till June 2, 2021 to enable the respondent open a defence.
8. Case No. OYJPPB/067
Mr Anishere Abolade v Inspector Dorcas, Area Command Apata. The petitioner was present and was represented by W. A. Lamidi (Esq.). Mr M. A. Ojeah appeared on behalf of the respondent.
The petition was slated for hearing, however, Mr Ojeah said that the petitioner’s written statement on oath was served on him this morning. He complained that the petitioner’s written statement on oath is voluminous. He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel for an adjournment to enable him go through the petition.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel therefore adjourned the petition till June 1, 2021 for hearing to enable the respondent’s counsel go through the petition as well as file a response.
Having gone through the proceedings for today, the hearing was brought to a close at about 11:10am.