The panel gave the directive as it resumed sitting after it adjourned indefinitely on December 23, 2021, when the NHRC paid a compensation of N146million to 27 police brutality victims.
The panel investigating alleged human rights violations committed by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has ordered the police authorities to show cause for failing to obey orders.
The panel was set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in October 2020 to investigate allegations of human rights abuses against SARS following the #ENDSARS protests.
The police had failed to obey the panel’s order in a petition filed by Nnena Alozie on her husband’s alleged arbitrary arrest and detention.
The respondents in the matter are ASP M. Obiozor of the defunct SARS Awkuzu, Anambra; Uzi Emeana; Sunday Okpe, police commissioner in Anambra and the inspector general of police.
The panel gave the directive as it resumed sitting after it adjourned indefinitely on December 23, 2021, when the NHRC paid a compensation of N146million to 27 police brutality victims.
On December 2, 2021, the panel ordered the police to produce the petitioner’s husband, two vehicles (a Lexus and a Ford), the briefcase and documents taken away from the petitioner’s residence on June 15, 2017, when Mr Alozie was arrested.
Garba Tetengi, who represented the chairman, Suleiman Galadima, directed the police to show cause why the panel should not grant the petitioner’s prayers.
He adjourned until March 7, 2022.
Mrs Alozie had in her petition before the panel, marked 2020/IIP/-SARS/ABJ/73, alleged arbitrary arrest and detention of her husband by SARS operatives.
In December 2021, she alleged that six SARS operatives stormed their residence in Lekki on June 15, 2017, and whisked her husband away.