A civil group, the International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative (IS4-PAHRI) has reacted to the statement credited to the Nigeria Police Force, indicating its disapproval of an alleged suit seeking to stop the states’ judicial panels of inquiry from its ongoing investigation of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on police brutality and human rights abuses of citizens.
A statement on Friday from the president of the organization, Comrade Osmond Ugwu and its secretary, Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, noted that “the Police authority has clearly indicated of its non-involvement in the suit and by extension has shown its support to the work of the panels and by further implication its willingness to cooperate with the panels on all areas of their works including honouring summons of the panels as and when issued.”
It, however, said that, “we see the action of IGP on the directive for investigation into the matter as not being enough to prove the innocence of the Police on its involvement in the suit or not remotely working in collusion with the actors in the suit to frustrate the work of the panels and by extension shielding the perpetrators of the acts from being investigated and denial of victims of the necessary compensations as the case may be.
“To this end, we call on the Police Authority to issue a directive to all the Police Officers who deposed to affidavit in the suit and every other Police personnel whose name are mentioned for one reason or the other in the suit, either as witnesses or for whatever purpose to immediately file application for withdrawal from suit.
“The matter has to be first of all be discontinued with or terminated before the action of investigation. If the matter is not discontinued with or terminated, the act of the investigation will be valueless as the court will go ahead with the matter and give rulings/judgement in the matter in the name of the Police as plaintiff against the respondent as the case may be.
“As a matter of fact, IS4-PAHRI sees the statement of disapproval by the Police Authority without a directive for withdrawal of the Suit as a mere gimmick and diversionary tactics aimed at detracting the people of Nigeria and International Community from prooer engagements against its actions and possibly secure an injunction against the panel.
“We therefore call on the Police Authority to issue a directive to all the Police personnel involved in the pending Suit to urgently file application for withdrawal from the Suit so as to prove their innocence and non-involvement in the matter.
“We also urge Nigerians to be at alert to fight against every attempt that will derail or frustrate the work of the panels.”
