Okoli Agwu, a victim of police
brutality, says his teeth were removed by operatives of the special
anti-robbery squad (SARS) during the 48 days he spent in their custody.
According to Tribune, Agwu, who
is a resident of Okokomaiko, spoke when he appeared before the judicial panel
of inquiry and restitution established by the Lagos government to investigate
cases of police brutality in the state.
Agwu said he was charged with an
offence he knew nothing about, adding that he lost all his properties during
the incident.
The victim’s petition with number LASG/JPI/01/2020 detailed how officers simply identified as “Inspector Sunday and ASP Haruna” arrested, detained and tortured him on the orders of his boss who had accused him of fraud.
Agwu said his mother and wife
were beaten as he was accused of embezzling the company’s funds after serving
as its manager for over four years.
“I worked for a company for four
and a half years as a manager. After my resignation, my boss invited me for the
authentication of my resignation. When I got there, my boss had me arrested by
police officers from Ojo police station,” he was quoted to have said.
“I was later taken to Ikeja
police command where I was manhandled and brutalized by Inspector Sunday
popularly known as Baba Ijapa and ASP Haruna.
“I was labelled a fraudster and was beaten,
severely injured, dehumanized and dragged all around Alaba International
Market. I was also taken to my church and disgraced before the congregation for
an offence I knew nothing about.
“On the instruction of my boss, I
was detained for 48 days and a bucket filled with cement was strapped at my
back. I had bruise all over my body and two of my teeth were removed. The
officers beat my wife and mother and they threatened to kill me if I did not
confess to embezzling my company’s fund.”
Agwu said his land and car were
sold while the officers allegedly threatened to kill him.
“They took all my property. They
seized my house and sold my car to make up for the money they said I had
embezzled. My boss also threatened to kill me if I did not pay back all the
money they said I stole,” he said.
“The case was taken before Hon Justice Ibrahim
Buba of the Federal High Court and he awarded a damage of N10m against the
police. But between 2016 and 2020, I have not seen anything. They have not
complied with the judgment.
“They sold my land and car. In
fact, the person the land was sold to dragged me before a Magistrate Court in
Badagry and the Magistrate remanded me in Kpotopiri prison for three days for
my inability to meet up with N50,000 fine.
“I want to appeal to this
honourable panel to compel the police to honour the judgment of the court and
return all my property or pay the damage because I have lost everything that I
now live in running errands for people to feed my family.”
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