A public hearing organised by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over cases of alleged human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force in the South-East was stalled in Enugu on Wednesday.
Cases of about 10 complaints from Enugu and Anambra states were listed for hearing.
Our correspondent learnt that the cases centred on unlawful detention, denial of right to personal liberty and violation of right to life.
However, hearing in the complaints was adjourned due to submissions by the police lawyers that they were not given enough time to prepare their defence for the cases.
The listed complaints, which came up for mention during the two-day sitting, included that of one Ambrose Okafor, from Anambra State, whose son was arrested and detained since 2014.
Okafor petitioned the NHRC that he had since been denied access to his son, who is yet to be released.
There was also a petition over the alleged arrest and extrajudicial killing of one Chinedu Paul Ugwu, from Nike, in Enugu State, by operatives of SARS.
In the same vein, the human rights body was also petitioned over the case of one Chibuike Edu of Enugu State, who was said to have been tortured to death by SARS personnel in Enugu.
A complaint over the alleged murder of one Amaechi Onyezue, an indigene of Anambra State, by SARS operatives at Neni, in Anambra State, was also listed for hearing.
The panel was chaired by NHRC’s Director Legal Services, Mr Olaniyi Omolara, while Mr Benedict Agu, Head of Monitoring, and Mr Richmond Iheme, Assistant Director Investigation, served as members.
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Cases of about 10 complaints from Enugu and Anambra states were listed for hearing.
Our correspondent learnt that the cases centred on unlawful detention, denial of right to personal liberty and violation of right to life.
However, hearing in the complaints was adjourned due to submissions by the police lawyers that they were not given enough time to prepare their defence for the cases.
The listed complaints, which came up for mention during the two-day sitting, included that of one Ambrose Okafor, from Anambra State, whose son was arrested and detained since 2014.
Okafor petitioned the NHRC that he had since been denied access to his son, who is yet to be released.
There was also a petition over the alleged arrest and extrajudicial killing of one Chinedu Paul Ugwu, from Nike, in Enugu State, by operatives of SARS.
In the same vein, the human rights body was also petitioned over the case of one Chibuike Edu of Enugu State, who was said to have been tortured to death by SARS personnel in Enugu.
A complaint over the alleged murder of one Amaechi Onyezue, an indigene of Anambra State, by SARS operatives at Neni, in Anambra State, was also listed for hearing.
The panel was chaired by NHRC’s Director Legal Services, Mr Olaniyi Omolara, while Mr Benedict Agu, Head of Monitoring, and Mr Richmond Iheme, Assistant Director Investigation, served as members.
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