This is a report of the 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 House of Chiefs, Oyo State House of Assembly, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2021.
Today hearing commenced at about 9:09am, shortly after the arrival of the panelists.
Cases at the Oyo State Judicial Panel
1. Case No. OYJPPB/007
Olayiwola Oyedokun v Nigeria Police Force (Bodija Police Station and Iyana Offa Police Station). The petitioner was present and was represented by Abiodun Akinmoyo and D. O. Olatunji (Esq.). CSP Funke Fawole and Mr O. J. Matthew appeared on behalf of the respondent.
The Officer in Charge legal, CSP Fawole agreed that she had been served with the processes but realised that the petitioner didn’t state in clear terms how the petition concerns the police. According to her, the petition only contains text messages of threat and nothing attached to the police. She was ordered by the Oyo State Judicial Panel to respond to the processes so the panel would know the position of the police on the matter.
However, Mrs Oluwafolake Ogundele, the counsel to the Oyo State Judicial Panel, stated that the petitioner’s counsel intended to file another petition and harmonise the petitions before the panel. In response, the legal counsel to the petitioner, Abiodun Akinmoyo told the panel that his principal, L. O. Olatunji (Esq.) instructed him not to file a fresh petition but to proceed with the two petitions already filed by the petitioner before the honorable panel. The first petition which is about the current matter, was filed on the 9th of November 2020, a day before the panel was set up while the second petition which is an addendum to the first petition, was filed on the 25th of January, 2021.
Subject to the convenience of the Oyo State Judicial Panel, the petition was adjourned till March 3, 2021 for definite hearing. The petitioner was advised to present the relevant witnesses and evidence at the hearing of the petition.
2. Case No. OYJPPB/008
Idris Sholola v The Nigeria Police, Ogbomoso Command. The petitioner was absent and there was no legal representative on his behalf. Meanwhile, CSP Funke Fawole and Mr O. J. Matthew appeared on behalf of the respondent.
This petition came up for the first time on January 26, 2021 but the petitioner didn’t appear before the Oyo State Judicial Panel and it was ordered that fresh hearing notice be served on the petitioner. The legal counsel to the panel, Mrs Oluwafolake Ogundele confirmed that she had issued a fresh hearing notice to the petitioner. Despite being informed, the petitioner whose petition was written by his legal counsel, didn’t appear before the panel today.
The Oyo State Judicial Panel decided to give the petitioner one more chance before striking out the petition as it appeared the petitioner was not interested in diligently prosecuting the petition.
In view of the petitioner’s absence, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till February 25, 2021 for mention or to strike out the petition. Also, it was agreed that a final fresh hearing notice would be issued and served on the petitioner and his counsel.
3. Case No. OYJPPB/010
Lance Corporal Adeborijo Adebayo Samuel v Nigeria Police Force, Intelligence and Response Team. The petitioner was present at the sitting. Also, A. G. Adesokan held the brief of C. M. Wanche for the petitioner. However, the respondent served with the processes of the petition, was not present at the sitting.
The respondent in this petition is the Intelligence and Response Team positioned in Abuja. At the last hearing which was 26th of January, 2021, the Officer in Charge Legal, CSP Funke Fawole, had asked that the processes be served on the respondent in Abuja. Mrs Oluwafolake Ogundele, the legal counsel to the Oyo State Judicial Panel, confirmed that she sent a courier to Abuja to deliver the processes of the petition but the address submitted by the petitioner was not traceable. She also called the contact on the petition, the respondent refused to reply right after she introduced herself. She then forwarded the hearing notice to the contact on WhatsApp. According to her, it was marked as read but there was no response from the other end.
The petition was written because the Intelligence and Response Team arrested the petitioner around 2 o’clock at his family house in Ibadan and took him to Abuja, where he was tortured for one year and five months without anyone knowing his whereabouts. Due to the petitioner’s absence at the military base, he was booked for desertion and his account frozen.
In the course of the proceedings, the petitioner’s legal representative, A. G. Adesokan, confirmed to the Oyo State Judicial Panel that the petition was sent because the petitioner received a disturbing phone call yesterday as regards the petition from a Police Officer who identified himself as one Sergeant Sanni Ayeigba, who also informed the petitioner to report in Abuja because the Intelligence and Response Team received a petition and a notice, inviting the agency for questioning. He stated further that there was a directive from one Commander Abba Kyari, instructing the petitioner to report himself in Abuja and failure to do so would warrant his rearrest. As it stands, the life of the petitioner is in danger.
However, the Oyo State Judicial Panel advised the petitioner not to show up in Abuja pending when the petition would be heard and the death threats should also be reported to the authorities at his military base.
With this, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 2, 2021 for hearing. The petitioner and his counsel were instructed to report at the Oyo State Judicial Panel’s secretariat immediately the court rises, to discuss further on the petition.
4. Case No. OYJPPB/011
Ife Olamiju (Esq.) v Nigeria Police Force. The petitioner was absent and was not represented at the sitting. This petition came up for the first time on January 27, 2021 and was adjourned till February 16, 2021. As such, this petition was not supposed to come up on the petition file for today.
The legal counsel to the Oyo State Judicial Panel, Mrs Oluwafolake Ogundele, apologised and took responsibility for the mistake.
The petition was therefore adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till February 16, 2021.
5. Case No. OYJPPB/071
Mr Isadele John Olusegun v The Nigeria Police, Monatan Ibadan. The petitioner was present at the sitting and was represented by Azeez Shittu (Esq.). While, CSP Funke Fawole and Mr O. J. Matthew represented the respondent.
The petition appeared before the Oyo State Judicial Panel for the first time and both parties agreed to had been served. The Officer in Charge Legal, CSP Fawole agreed that she had been served with the processes and the response had been filed but was yet to be submitted.
With the approval of both parties, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till March 9, 2021 for definite hearing.
6. Case No. OYJPPB/072
Chief M. A. Makinde v Oyo State Police Command and three others. The petitioner was present at the sitting and was not represented by a legal counsel. The petitioner opted to handle the petition on his own. In the words of the petitioner, he was maliciously prosecuted, dehumanized and was not granted fair hearing and trial. On the other hand, CSP Funke Fawole and Mr O. J. Matthew represented the Police Command.
The petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till February 25, 2021 for mention to enable the police file a response to the petition and to also issue a fresh hearing to the other respondents involved in the petition.
7. Case No. OYJPPB/073
Seye Brodiemenas v Nigeria Police SARS, Dugbe. The petitioner was absent at the hearing and was not represented by a legal counsel. Meanwhile, CSP Funke Fawole and Mr O. J. Matthew appeared on behalf of the respondent.
The petition was therefore adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till February 25, 2021 for mention.
8. Case No. OYJPPB/074
Mr Babalola Kamorudeen Soladoye v Unknown Protesters. The petitioner was present at the sitting but was not represented by a legal counsel.
The petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till February 25, 2021 for mention to enable the petitioner obtain the services of a pro bono counsel.
9. Case No. OYJPPB/075
Mrs Oluwatoyin Oseni v The Nigeria Police, Ikeja Police Command. The petitioner was present and represented by Temitope Adesiyan (Esq.). CSP Funke Fawole declined appearance on behalf of the Ikeja Police Command.
However, Mrs Oluwafolake Ogundele informed the Oyo State Judicial Panel that the processes were served on Ikeja Police Command on Monday but that she was yet to get the proof of service.
Therefore, the petition was adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till February 25, 2021 for mention. Also, the respondent would be served with the relevant processes with the proof of service attached to the petitioner’s file.
10. Case No. OYJPPB/076
The family of Gbolahan Samuel Adedoyin v The Nigeria Police (Operation Burst Team). The petitioner was represented by Ishola Oluwagbemiga Ayobami, the deceased’s cousin. The Officer in Charge Legal, CSP Funke Fawole declined appearance on behalf of the respondent.
Mrs Oluwafolake Ogundele told the Oyo State Judicial Panel that the processes of the petition were served on the office of the OC Legal because it was assumed that CSP Funke Fawole would appear on behalf of Operation Burst. The petitioner was advised to appear at the next hearing along with the legal representative of the family.
The petition was therefore adjourned by the Oyo State Judicial Panel till February 25, 2021 for mention so as to issue and serve the relevant processes on Operation Burst.
Having gone through the proceedings for today, the hearing was brought to a close by Hon Justice Badejoko Adeniji at about 11:05am.