This is a report of the fifty-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 29, 2021.
Today’s sitting commenced at about 9:41am, 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 but was represented by Abiodun Akinwuyi (Esq.) and D. O. Olatunji (Esq.). Meanwhile, the respondent was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba.
Mr Akinwuyi, the petitioner’s counsel apologised for the petitioner’s absence. He said that he was informed yesterday that the petitioner, who is about 81 years of age, had been sick for the past three days.
The petition was last adjourned to enable the respondent open a defence. However, Mr Ojeah, the respondent’s counsel prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel for an adjournment because his witnesses were not available.
The petition was therefore adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till July 6, 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 Odusola (Esq.). The respondent on the other hand was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba.
At the last adjourned date, the Oyo State Judicial Panel directed the respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah to present the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) who was in charge of the deceased’s case while he was at Adelubi Police Station.
However, the respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah said that after the enquiry he made, he was told that the IPO had been deployed to Enugu Detective College for a three months course and he does not know when she would return.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel therefore pointed out that it requested for the IPO’s appearance because she was the one who transferred the deceased’s case to the Special Anti Robbery Squad, Dugbe and there was a need to know if Late Abass Lawal Adekoya was sick before the transfer. The panel however added that there was no longer a need for the IPO’s presence, because it had gotten the information needed.
With that, petition OYJPPB/060 was adjourned sine die.
3. Case No. OYJPPB/025
Alhaji Ganiyu Ajiboye Busari v Oyo State Police Command. The petitioner was present and was represented by Kingsley Ike (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 took a critical look at the petition and he realised that the petitioner’s request had to do with the reopening of his house. He said that the petitioner’s request could only be granted by the Oyo State Government because it is beyond the powers of the police. He therefore rested his case on the petitioner’s evidence.
With that, petition OYJPPB/025 was adjourned sine die.
4. Case No. OYJPPB/038
Mr Adegbite Nasiru v The Nigeria Police, Eleyele Ibadan. The petitioner was present and was represented by S. A. Oladele (Esq.). 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. However, the respondent’s counsel, Mr Ojeah said that he would rest his case on the evidence given by the petitioner because the matter is presently before the Magistrate Court 7, Iyaganku with charge M/543C/2020.
He said that the prosecution of the petition before the Oyo State Judicial Panel would affect the matter before the Magistrate Court.
In response, Mr Oladele, the petitioner’s counsel said that the petition before the Oyo State Judicial Panel had to do with extortion and illegal detention. He also said that it was the police who charged the petitioner to court, because he refused to pay the N50,000 he was asked to pay.
In view of that, petition OYJPPB/038 was adjourned sine die.
5. Case No. OYJPPB/060
Comrade Segun Ogundepo v Nigeria Police, Agugu Division. The petitioner was present and was represented by a legal counsel, R. A. Eyinade (Esq.). 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. Mrs Olorukooba, the respondent’s counsel said that she would present three witnesses before the Oyo State Judicial Panel for her defence.
With that, the first witness, Inspector Esther Oluloro was invited to the witness stand and was sworn on the Bible. She was deployed from Agodi Area Command to Agugu Division in 2013.
She said that she was at Agugu Police Station on the 21st of January, 2019 when Alhaji Mikail Abdulraheem approached the station at about 6pm to report Mr Segun Ogundepo. She said that the complainant reported that Mr Oyedepo accused him of preaching against the Christians.
She said that she followed the complainant alongside one Inspector Adebayo to Ayekale, to invite Mr Ogundepo to the station.
She said that on getting to the station, Mr Ogundepo and Alhaji Abdulraheem were told to record their statements. She said that the complainant recorded in his statement that he was seeing off his visitors, when Mr Ogundepo suddenly attacked him and threatened his life.
She said that she thereafter informed the DPO at that time, CSP Alamu Waheed that she had recorded the statements and she was ordered to proceed to the complainant’s neighbourhood to invite those who witnessed the incident.
She said that the DPO thereafter tried to settle the matter amicably but Mr Ogundepo kept raising his voice. She said that the DPO said that they should all be released on bail but when Mr Ogundepo’s lawyer and wife came around, Mr Ogundepo told them not to bail him that he wants the matter to be taken to court.
She said that Mr Ogundepo was charged to Ibadan North East Magistrate Court, Iwo Road the next day but because the court was on recess, he was taken back to the station.
She said that Mr Ogundepo was asked to produce a surety so he could be released but he insisted that he wants the matter taken to court. She said that as a result of that, Mr Ogundepo was arraigned before the court the next day, January 23rd, 2021 but pleaded not guilty to the allegations made against him.
The respondent’s counsel, Mrs Olorukooba tendered the recorded statements, station diary extract, police investigation report and charge sheets before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and they were marked and admitted as exhibits.
Thereafter, the witness was cross examined by the petitioner’s counsel, Mr Eyinade and the members of the Oyo State Judicial Panel after which the second witness was invited to the witness stand and was sworn on the Quran.
The name of the second witness is Alhaji Mikail Abdulraheem. He said that one Mr Ajani and some elders who were the zonal chairmen in Ayekale Community were charged to court on a matter that had to do with Mr Segun Ogundepo.
He said that the elders approached him as the Chief Imam to explain what transpired in court and while he was seeing them off, Mr Segun Ogundepo suddenly appeared from nowhere to attack him, rained curses on him and also threatened his life.
He said that he reported the incident at Agugu Police Division and the police followed him home to invite Mr Oyedepo to the station. He said the police appealed to him that the matter should be resolved amicably and he agreed but Mr Segun Ogundepo was adamant. He said he later left the station and does not know what happened thereafter.
Mrs Olorukooba, the respondent’s counsel tendered a copy of the Federal High Court judgement before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and it was marked and admitted as exhibit.
Thereafter, the witness was cross examined by the petitioner’s counsel, Mr Eyinade and members of the Oyo State Judicial Panel. With that, the last witness was invited to the witness stand and was sworn on the Bible.
The name of the witness is Chief Josiah Bolatito Ajani. He said that Alhaji Mikail and Mr Ogundepo are co-landlords in his neighbourhood. He said that at about 5:30pm on the 21st of January, 2019, he went alongside with one Chief Akojede to inform Alhaji Mikail about the outcome of the proceedings that took place at the Federal High Court concerning a matter that had to do with Mr Segun Ogundepo.
He said that while they were leaving, Alhaji Mikail decided to see them off. He said they were about to exit Alhaji Mikail’s compound when Mr Ogundepo suddenly rushed out to attack Alhaji Mikail.
He said that he panicked and left for his house to take his drugs because he was hypertensive. He said that he called his deputy on the phone thereafter to inform him about what had happened.
He said that he was invited to the station the next day to record his statements and that’s all he could say about the matter.
With that, Mrs Olorukooba tendered the witness’s recorded statement before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and it was marked and admitted as exhibits.
The witness was cross examined and the petition was thereafter adjourned sine die.
6. Case No. OYJPPB/091
Mr Alamu Toheeb v Nigeria Police, Eleyele Police Station. The petitioner was present and was represented by A. B. Ademiluwa (Esq.) and O. P. Adenuga (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’s counsel, Mr Ojeah present the police inspector summoned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel. However, Mr Ojeah prayed the panel for an adjournment because his witness was indisposed.
The petition was therefore adjourned by the panel till July 7, 2021 for the police inspector invited by the Oyo State Judicial Panel to appear before it.
Petition for Hearing at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
7. Case No. OYJPPB/090
Alfa Hamzat Ibrahim v Nigerian Correctional Service, Agodi Ibadan. The petitioner was present and was represented by Oluwadamilola Amure (Esq.), who held the brief for Jimoh Abdulsalam (Esq.). Meanwhile, the respondent was absent and was not represented by a legal counsel.
The petition was adjourned to enable the petitioner give his evidence. However, the petitioner’s counsel, Mr Amure prayed the Oyo State Judicial Panel for an adjournment to enable him file the necessary documents which are relevant to the case. He said that the documents were made available to him yesterday and there was a need for him to furnish the panel with copies of the files.
With that, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till July 6, 2021 to enable the petitioner open his case.
Petition for Hearing or Striking Out at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
8. Case No. OYJPPB/037
Mr Ayanwole Jimoh v Nigeria Police, Eleyele Police Station. The petitioner was absent and was not represented by a legal counsel. The respondent on the other hand was represented by Mr M. A. Ojeah and Mrs B. K. Olorukooba.
The petition was last adjourned for definite hearing or striking out because the petition had been adjourned on three different occasions and the petitioner was neither present nor represented by a legal counsel.
Mrs Oluwafolake Ogundele, the Oyo State Judicial Panel’s counsel however said that the petitioner appeared only on the 2nd of February, 2021 and was never represented by a counsel. She said that the hearing notices were served on him on several occasions but there was never a response from his end.
With that, petition OYJPPB/037 was struck out for lack of due diligence.
Having gone through the proceedings for today, the hearing was brought to a close at about 2:20pm.