Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the group alleged that the two suspects, currently in the custody of the STS of the FID, are providing false identities in a bid to evade justice.
A group operating under the auspices of Edo Peoples Advocacy has accused the Special Tactical Squad (STS) of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Nigeria Police Force of obstructing justice in an ongoing criminal investigation involving two suspects, including an alleged prison escapee, Osazuwa Igbinedion, and Macaulay Osagbakhoe.
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, the group alleged that the two suspects, currently in the custody of the STS of the FID, are providing false identities in a bid to evade justice.
Speaking on behalf of the group, a human rights activist, Comrade Aigbogun Emmanuel, said the suspects are allegedly posing as Frank Osasodion and Etiosa Osasodion, despite records indicating that one of them is a confirmed escapee from the White House Correctional Centre (Benin Prison) in Edo State, while the other is being investigated for murder.
The group recalled that the alleged escape occurred during the #EndSARS protests in 2020, when correctional facilities in Edo South, including the White House and Oko Correctional Centres, were attacked and inmates unlawfully freed.
The group expressed shock that, despite the gravity of the allegations, the suspects were reportedly transferred to Abuja, raising concerns that the move may be aimed at frustrating ongoing investigations.
“Our greatest concern is why a police tactical unit in Abuja would be involved in a matter that originated in Edo State, and whether the harmonisation of case files now being discussed is intended to secure the release of a confirmed escapee,” the group said.
The group further alleged that some individuals within the suspects’ community leadership were already celebrating what they described as an impending release, despite the existence of victims, including those who sustained gunshot injuries.
The group also presented court documents with Charge No. B/CD/332/19, filed by the Edo State Department of Public Prosecution before an Edo State High Court in Auchi, charging the suspects with offences ranging from murder and unlawful possession of firearms to acts capable of causing communal crisis.
Also presented were the death and autopsy certificates of one Mavis Omokaru, who, according to the group, was shot and killed in the Ahor community, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, in 2018 by one of the suspects.
They warned that allowing criminals to exploit state institutions to evade justice represents a serious failure of the policing system.
“When a police unit in one state holds suspects, only for another unit to undermine the investigation, it sends a dangerous message to the public,” the group stated.
While acknowledging that the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) had reportedly ordered the harmonisation of the case, the group questioned whether such a process should result in the release of a prison escapee.
The group called on the Inspector-General of Police to conduct a transparent investigation into the true identities of Frank Osasodion and Etiosa Osasodion, and to verify whether the suspects are escapees using official correctional and prosecution records.
The activist emphasized that their intervention was motivated by a commitment to justice and accountability, stressing that relevant authorities, including the Edo State Commissioner of Police and the State Solicitor-General, had previously confirmed the escapee status of the suspect.
Comrade Aigbogun, therefore, warned police officers within the FID tactical team who are allegedly aiding criminal acts to desist, insisting that truth and justice must prevail.