This is a report of the forty-ninth 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, June 1, 2021.
Today’s sitting commenced at about 9:35am, 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/057
Mrs Mosunmola Labinjo v Nigeria Police Housing, Police Station. The petitioner was present but was not represented by a legal counsel. Meanwhile, the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah.
The petition was last adjourned to enable the respondent open a defence. Mr Ojeah, the respondent’s counsel therefore invited his witness to the witness stand and she was sworn on the Quran.
The name of the witness is B. K. Olorukooba-Jimoh. She is a police officer with the rank of an inspector. She is attached to the legal department of the State CID, Iyaganku, Ibadan. She said that she was a prosecutor attached to the legal section of the State CID as at the time of the incident.
She said that she does not know the petitioner but her son was charged to the Magistrate Court for armed robbery and conspiracy. She said that the Magistrate lacked jurisdiction and instead remanded the petitioner’s son at Agodi Prison pending the legal advice from the Ministry of Justice.
She said that the legal advice was not issued because the court was informed that the deceased had been granted High Court bail and he never came back to the Magistrate Court.
She said that she does not know if the petitioner’s son was brutalised because she didn’t see any sign of brutality on him when he was arraigned before the court.
She said that the deceased was arrested by the officers of Bodija Police Station but the case was transferred to the State CID due to the gravity of the offence. She said that the case was later transferred to the Special Anti Robbery Squad before he was eventually arraigned before the court.
The witness was thereafter cross examined by the members of the Oyo State Judicial Panel. With that, the respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah brought his case to a close and the petition was adjourned sine die.
2. Case No. OYJPPB/063
Alh. Kaharu M. Adeyemi v The Nigeria Police, Alabebe Division. The petitioner was present and was represented by Kayode Okunade (Esq.). Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba maintained appearances on behalf of the respondent.
The petition was last adjourned to enable the respondent open a defence. The respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah therefore invited his witness to the witness stand and she was sworn on the Bible.
The name of the witness is Ogunsina Adetutu. She is a police officer with the rank of an Inspector. She is attached to Monatan Police Station, Alabebe. She prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to adopt the written statement on oath which she deposed to on the 9th of February, 2021 as her evidence.
She said that the complainant, Alhaji Adebowale reported at the station that he gave his Nissan Micra to the petitioner at the rate of N1.2million with an agreement that the petitioner would pay N15,000 per week but after three months, he stopped seeing Alhaji Kaharu.
She said that during the course of the investigation, she went to the petitioner’s house in company of Alhaji Adebowale and saw the said Nissan Micra with registration number BDJ16XD but the vehicle had been emptied with no engine, tyre, and jack.
She said that on getting back to the station, Alhaji Kaharu confirmed that he sold the items to repair his Micra car with registration number SEY664SA. She said that the petitioner’s car was not impounded and he was never detained.
Mr Ojeah, the respondent’s counsel tendered photographs of the emptied Nissan Micra before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and they were marked and admitted as exhibits.
With that, the witness was cross examined by the petitioner’s counsel, Mr Okunade and members of the Oyo State Judicial Panel.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel said that a letter of summons would be issued and served on Alhaji Adebowale to shed more light on the matter. The petition was therefore adjourned till June 10, 2021 for further hearing.
3. Case No. OYJPPB/065
The Family of Late Waheed Olanrewaju v The DPO, Mokola Police Station. The family was represented by Saheed Olanrewaju and a legal counsel, Adekola Kareem (Esq.). While the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba.
The petition was last adjourned to enable the respondent open a defence. However, the respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel for an adjournment because his sole witness was indisposed.
The petition was therefore adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till June 8, 2021.
4. Case No. OYJPPB/077
Mrs Sumbo Salami v The Nigeria Police, Adelubi Station. The petitioner was present and was represented by Mrs Deborah Oluyemisi Collins and Mrs Afolake Adeoba. Meanwhile, the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba.
The petition was last adjourned to enable the respondent open a defence. Mr Ojeah, the respondent’s counsel therefore said that he would present two witnesses before the Oyo State Judicial Panel. With that, the first witness, Inspector Adebiyi Atinuke was invited to the witness stand and was sworn on the Bible.
She is presently attached to the Ayepe Division of the Nigeria Police Force. She prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to adopt her written statement on oath which she deposed today, as her evidence.
She said that she joined the police force in 2004. She said that she was the IPO in the matter brought before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and her duty was to investigate the matter between the parties involved.
She said that Sumbo Salami and Okunola Khadijat both came to the station to make a complaint on the said day. She said that Mrs Salami reported that when she got to where she was living, Okunola Khadijat rained abuses on her because they had misunderstanding prior to that time. She said that she asked Khadijat what the problem was, and she said that each time Mrs Salami comes to the house, she foments trouble because they had misunderstandings and the case was in court.
She said that she obtained the complainant’s statement and thereafter told them to report at the station the next day with their sureties to see the DCO. She said that she did not visit the scene of the incident but conducted an investigation based on what was narrated.
With that, the witness was cross examined by the petitioner’s counsel, Mrs Collins and the members of the Oyo State Judicial Panel. The second witness was thereafter invited to the witness stand and she was sworn on the Bible.
The name of the second witness is Inspector Oladunjoye Omotolani. She is attached to Alakia/Adelubi Police Division. She said that she has been recently attached to Ayepe Police Division because Adelubi Police Station was razed down during the last #EndSARS protest. She prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to adopt her written statement on oath which she deposed today as her evidence.
She said that she knows the petitioner. She said that resumed work on the said date at about 6:50pm for the night duty. She said that the petitioner was handed over to her as a suspect by the officers on the afternoon shift.
She said that she then ordered the petitioner to sit behind the counter but the petitioner shouted that she was not a suspect and that she had come to make a complaint at the station and that she was awaiting her surety. She said that she left the petitioner and did not hit her at any point.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel however recalled that a medical practitioner had testified that the petitioner was badly beaten and that had affected her left hand. However, the witness maintained that the petitioner was never beaten nor assaulted by the police officers.
The witness was cross examined by Mrs Collins, the petitioner’s counsel and members of the Oyo State Judicial Panel.
Having heard from the witnesses, the petition was adjourned sine die.
5. Case No. OYJPPB/078
The Family of Abdul-Qudus Agbolade v The Nigeria Police, Ojoo Division. The family was represented by Ahmed Agbolade and two legal counsels, Mrs Deborah Oluyemisi Collins and Mrs Afolakemi Adeoba. Meanwhile, the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba.
The petition was filed in respect of Abdul-Qudus Agbolade who was shot dead by the police and the petition was last adjourned to enable the petitioner present the fourth relevant witness.
With that the witness, Akinyemi Olumide, was invited to the witness stand and was sworn on the Bible. He resides at (redacted) Ibadan. He is a welder by profession. He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to adopt his written statement on oath which he deposed on the 27th of April, 2021 as his evidence.
He said that the deceased was his apprentice and he had known him since 2017. He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to compensate the family of the deceased.
He was thereafter cross examined by the respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah and members of the Oyo State Judicial Panel.
The respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel for an adjournment to enable him file a response as well as open a defence.
The petition was therefore adjourned the Oyo State Judicial Panel till June 15, 2021 to enable the respondent open a defence.
Petitions for Mention at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
6. Case No. OYJPPB/058
Comrade Sulayman Adeniyi and Anor v The Nigeria Police, Intelligence Response Team, Abuja. The first petitioner was present and was represented by W. A. Lamidi (Esq.). Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba appeared on behalf of the respondent.
The counsel in this petition, Mr Lamidi told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that he would withdraw his appearance due to the petitioners’ nonchalant attitude towards the petition as this had caused unwarranted delay.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel granted the application and the petition was adjourned till tomorrow, June 2, 2021 for definite hearing.
Petitions for Hearing at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
7. 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.). Meanwhile, Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba maintained appearances on behalf of the respondent.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mr Lamidi told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that he would only present the petitioner as the relevant witness to the petition. With that, the petitioner was invited to the witness stand and was sworn on the Quran.
The name of the petitioner is Anishere Abolade. He resides at (redacted) Ibadan. He is a retiree. He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to adopt his written statement on oath as his evidence.
The petitioner filed the petition because the respondent failed to investigate his matter when he was defrauded even after collecting money from him. He said that fraudsters collected the sum of N165,000 from him and he had gone to the police station to report the incident. He said that N30,000 was however collected from him by one Inspector Dorcas and he has nothing to show as evidence.
He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to compensate him with N1million for the stress he went through in the hands of the police. He therefore brought his case to a close and he was cross examined by the respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah and members of the panel.
With that, the respondent opened a defence by inviting his witness to the witness stand and she was sworn on the Bible.
The name of the witness is Akintola Dorcas. She is an inspector attached to Apata Area Command. She prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to adopt her written statement on oath as her evidence.
She said that she knows the petitioner and that when he reported the incident in which he was defrauded at the station, she did thorough investigation. She said that she did not collect any money from the petitioner for banker’s order.
The respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah tendered the statement made by the petitioner at Apata Police Command before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and it was marked and admitted as exhibit.
The witness, was thereafter, cross examined by the petitioner’s counsel, Mr Lamidi and members of the Oyo State Judicial Panel after which the petition was adjourned sine die.
8. Case No. OYJPPB/093
Re: Mr Olatunde Gbenga Request for Medical Assistance. The petitioner was present and was represented by Mrs R. A. Odeyale, the Assistant Director, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mrs Odeyale said that the petitioner’s father would be the witness in the petition due to the petitioner’s health condition. The petition was brought before the Oyo State Judicial Panel because the petitioner, Olatunde Gbenga was shot in the head by a stray bullet and he therefore, seeks medical assistance.
The name of the witness is Olatunde Michael. He lives at (redacted) Ibadan. He is a trader. He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to adopt his written statement on oath which he deposed on the 27th of May, 2021 as his evidence.
He said that after the incident, his son was taken to the University College Hospital, Ibadan where the first surgery was carried out. He said that the next surgery is slated for July 19, 2021. He said that his son is yet to go back to school because he is still recuperating. He however said he goes to the hospital on regular basis for medical checkup.
He prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel to assist him financially with the sum of N10 million.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mrs Odeyale tendered the petitioner’s photographs, UCH medical report and 199 medical receipts before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and they were marked and admitted as exhibits.
Thereafter, the petition was adjourned sine die.
Petitions for Hearing or Striking Out at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
9. Case No. OYJPPB/075
Mr Muraina Kadiri Adeyemi v The Nigeria Police, Iyaganku. The petitioner was absent but was represented by W. A. Lamidi (Esq.). Meanwhile, the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mr Lamidi apologised for the absence of the petitioner. He said that the petitioner was absent because he was indisposed. He however said that the petitioner is no longer interested in prosecuting the petition before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and he tendered a letter to that effect.
In view of the letter written by the petitioner’s counsel to withdraw the petition subject to litigation in the regular court, petition OYJPPB/035 was struck out.
Having gone through the proceedings for today, the hearing was brought to a close at about 5:19pm.