ABBA KYARI: More woes as panel summons his lawyer

 

....adjourns to issue report on death of one Adagbor in custody

By Akpokona Omafuaire

ABUJA--THE Independent Investigation Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, has summoned the lawyer representing the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Abba Kyari to appear before it on April 20.

The panel, which is headed by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Suleiman Galadima, directed the lawyer, Abdullahi Haruna, SAN, to appear before it over numerous petitions pending against his client. 

Kyari, who hitherto headed the Police Intelligence Response Team, IRT, is currently remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Center Kuje, following his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

The panel, in a statement it made available to newsmen through the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, at the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, Mrs. Fatimah Mohammed, disclosed that some of the petitions pending against DCP Kyari and the Inspector General of Police, border on alleged unlawful arrest/detention, torture, as well as cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of suspects.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Dr Garba Tetengi, who stood in for Chairman of the panel, Justice Galadima, noted that Kyari's lawyer had in a letter to the panel, stated that he was briefed by his client to take over all the petitions pending against him.

 

He further recalled that one week was earlier given to Kyari's lawyer to appear for his client to enable the panel to find out the truth in several petitions where his name was mentioned as a Respondent.

Tetengi disclosed that sequel to a request by Kyari's lawyer, the panel, directed its Secretariat headed by Mr Hilary Ogbonna Esq, to serve him all the petitions and proceedings related thereto.

He, therefore, wondered why Kyari's lawyer failed to appear before the panel on Wednesday, having been notified that the matter would come up and he would need to cross-examine some witnesses that were brought by the Petitioners.

Meanwhile, police lawyer, Mr. James Idachaba, has informed the panel that his team would no longer represent Kyari. 

"The Police legal team will henceforth be appearing for the IGP only in respect of this matter", Idachaba added.

It will be recalled that some family members of alleged victims of Kyari-led police team, had on March 3, approached the panel, praying it to compel the police to release three detainees- Yakubu Danjuma, Ibrahim Daniel and Choji Dung- who they said were arrested between December 13 and 17, 2019, and detained.

The Petitioners, including Ismail Marungo and Blessing Choji, alleged that Police declined to free the three detainees, despite a court order that directed their immediate release on bail or trial.

Initial order the panel made for the said detained victims to be produced before it on March 11, was spurned by police.

The petition has been adjourned till April 20 for cross-examination of the witnesses and continuation of hearing.

Similarly, the panel, admitted the case file of alleged unlawful detention, death in Police custody and extortion, in evidence and marked it as an exhibit.

The panel had earlier ordered police to produce the said case file containing their records of investigation of Samuel Adagbor (deceased) for alleged criminal conspiracy and human trafficking.

Inspector Sunday Sylvester had on March 29, testified before the panel that the victim, while he was alive, reportedly dealt on human body parts which information led to his arrest, detention and investigation.

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However, counsel to the Petitioner, Gabriel Egbule, insisted that the deceased was a mortician and not a human parts dealer as alleged by Police witness.

The panel directed both sides to within 24 hours, file and exchange their final written addresses, even as it adjourned the matter for report.

Again, Bandits raid Zaria estate,kidnap Customs officer, others

 

By Akpokona Omafuaire

A Customs officer, his son and other residents of a housing estate in Zaria, Kaduna State were kidnapped by suspected bandits on Wednesday. 

Spokesman of the Police Command in Kaduna State, Mohammed Jalige said he was yet to get the details of the incident but would revert when he was briefed by the operatives.

ASP Mohammed Jalige, spokesman of the Kaduna state police command,said “I cannot confirm it because I have not received any report on the incident, but I will contact our men in the area and find out."

However, journalists were told that the bandits came in large number ,shot sporadically and kidnapped the residents at about 10pm.

“Yes, there was heavy attack in Low Cost area this night at about 10pm," a resident said.

Five reportedly dead, others wounded in a fatal road accident in Delta

Five reportedly dead, others wounded in a fatal road accident in Delta

By Akpokona Omafuaire

WARRI - ABOUT five persons reportedly lost their lives in a fatal motor accident involving two vehicles in a headlong collision Wednesday afternoon on the Osubi/Abraka Highway in Delta State

A reliable source said that five travellers died in the accident involving a Toyota Lexus Jeep and a commercial Toyota Picnic vehicle on Wednesday, March 30, 2022.

The accident involved an Ash coloured Lexus 330 with Registration number: TJK203HG(Lagos) and a dark green Toyota Picnic, a commercial vehicle with Registration number:KPE 778AA.

The commercial vehicle was said to be heading to Abraka when the Lexus jeep rammed into it killing five occupants on the spot.

Our source said the Toyota Lexus Jeep which was driven by a suspected yahoo boy was at a breakneck speed when it rammed into the commercial vehicle.

It was gathered that five other occupants of the vehicles who sustained various degrees of injuries were immediately rushed to the nearest hospital at Oviorie near Orerokpe while one passenger escaped unhurt.

Although the identities of the victims are yet to be made public at the time of this report, sources said men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) promptly evacuated the wreckage of the vehicles from the road to ensure a free flow of vehicular movements.

Nigeria has a super callous political class - Ezekwesili

By Akpokona Omafuaire

FORMER Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili has reiterated call for the restructuring of the country as the current insecurity has reached an unbearable point.

Ezekwesili made the call Thursday morning through her verified Twitter handle @obyezeks.

According to her, "Someone asked me what I think the priorities of my country, Nigeria should be? 

"I  answered: 1.. Restructure Nigeria. 

2. Restructure Nigeria.

3. Restructure Nigeria.

"Nothing else makes sense for a country with a bunch of fellows whose mission in life is “a race to the bottom”

She further added, "Nigeria has a super callous political class that: 1. places zero value on the lives of their citizens

2. Have succeeded in making even the long suffering citizens soulless to the point of placing zero value on the lives of their fellow citizens. Tragic beyond belief."

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Amaechi not a progressive - Igbakpa

 By Akpokona Omafuaire

WARRI - THE member representing Ethiope federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Ben Igbakpa has accused Minister of Transport and former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi of not being a progressive, because he's annoyed that Nigerians are irritated by the insecurity in the country.

Igbakpa, a member of the opposition, People's Democratic Party stated this on Thursday in Abuja.

The federal lawmaker lashed the minister on his verified Twitter handle @benigbakpa.

According to him, "Hon. Minister Rotimi Amaechi confirmed they are not progressives. He is annoyed. Nigerians are irritated by this affliction."

Recall that the minister had on Tuesday visited the scene of the bombed Abuja-Kaduna train where unspecified number of persons died, others injured with a lot missing too and gave an outrageous manifest figure of persons on the ill-fated train.

The figure reeled out led many Nigerians to call out the government and the minister.

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Pastors at war: Am not on the run - Ighosotu

 By Akpokona Omafuaire

WARRI - CONTRARY to media reports, the General Overseer of God’s Delight Gospel Assembly (AKA Free Indeed) Senior Pastor John Mark Ighosotu has accused Prophet Jeremiah Omoto Fufeyin, the General Overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry of using the police and media to harass him over an issue that is currently under police investigation.

Ighosotu made the declaration in Warri while addressing journalists through human Rights Activists, Oghenejabor Ikimi Esq.

He said that since Prophet Fufeyin has suddenly lost confidence in the Nigeria Police and resorted “to blackmailing our client in the Press, we have decided to respond accordingly so as to keep the records straight”

According to Ikimi, “Our attention as a team of counsel to Senior Pastor John Mark Ighosotu, the General Overseer of God’s Delight Gospel Assembly (AKA Free Indeed) Senior Pastor John Mark Ighosotu has been drawn to two false online publication about our client at the behest of Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin, , the General Overseer of Christ Mercyland Deliverance Ministry which reads as follows:

“Police detain mobile officer for masterminding Delta General Overseer escape” and another which read thus: “Fufeyin: Police inspector quizzed for alleged disappearance of Pastor Jonathan Ighosotu”

“We make bold to state that the contents of the above publications consist of either outright lies and/or misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading the general publice, hence this press statement” Barrister Ikimi said.

It will be recall that Prophet Fufeyin had written a petition to the Inspector General of Police in Abuja, alleging Conspiracy, Cybercrime and Criminal defamation against Pastor Ighosotu.

But in explaining the current situation, Barrister Ikimi, counsel to Pastor Ighosotu claimed that, four Police Hilux vans consisting of over 20 armed Policemen and some pressmen stormed the cleric’s residence in Orhuwhorun town on the 25th day of February, 2022 led by one Inspector Yohanna Suaibu of Team 4 X-Squad, Force CID, Abuja but met his absence.

Being disappointed they disarmed and arrested the cleric’s orderly, Inspector Aminu Ibrahim who was later released at the Nigerian Police Station, Ovwian, Delta State, the statement said.

Adding that “on hearing of the above invasion of his residence,” the cleric “immediately left for Abuja same day and reported himself at the Force CID, Abuja where he obliged the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge his statement with lawyers from the Law Firm of Mike Ozekhome SAN & Co., in attendance.

He said the Pastor Ighosotu was granted bail on self recognition and he returned to Warri, Delta State on Saturday, the 5th day of March, 2022 and on Sunday, the 6th day of March, 2022 presided over the Sunday Church Service at the Free Indeed Church Headquarters.

He stated that the GO “is presently presiding over and ministering in a Ministers Conference tagged “Upper Room Fire Conference” in his church with ministers from all walks of life in attendance.

The statement said that the online publications stating that Ighosotu “is on the run and that he is about to be declared wanted by the Nigerian Police is not only false but a wicked lie.”

“Pastor Ighosotu who presides over one of the largest Church in Warri with a numerical strength of over a hundred thousand members cannot be described as evading justice for a crime he never committed.” Barrister Ikimi said further

He stated that the cleric’s legal team said that “the Law Office of Mike Ozekhome SAN & Co., has put up a strong worded petition on the Inspector General of Police and have also proceeded to Court to secure” an Order restraining Prophet Jeremiah Fufeyin from further harassing our Client even when our Client is innocent.”

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