CDHR Petitions IGP Over SARS’ Brutality on Pensioner, Son In-Law in Osun

By Segun Adejumo

The committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Osun State branch has called on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to investigate the brutalization of a 57-year-old pensioner, Mrs Funmilola Okelola and his son in-law, Mr Adeniyi Jones by the operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).

CDHR stated in the petition that both Okelola and Jones were subjected to inhumane treatment by the SARS operatives from the Adeniji Adele zone, Lagos on March 15, 2017 at the premises of Osun State High Court, Osogbo.

According to the petition, Jones was a complainant in case of malicious damage instituted by the police against a businesswoman, Mrs Kikelomo Kayode Oladipupo on whose behalf the SARS came to arrest Jones.

A copy of the petition obtained by CityMirrorNews on Saturday reads: “Oladipupo was charged to court for allegedly vandalizing Jone’s cold room located around Igbona Osogbo on February 16, 2017. The woman allegedly vandalized Jone’s cold room following his inability to pay up his N1.2m debt incurred during business transaction with her.

“She allegedly went to vandalise the fish deport in company of one Ameh Sunday, who claimed to be a military police from Ikeja cantonment, Lagos and other people. The SARS operatives descended on Jones and his mother in-law, Mrs Olufunke Okelola, after the court had pronounced that Mr Adeniyi should be taken to Dugbe Police Station for protective custody.

“Mrs Oke claimed that she was hit with gun boot on the chest, beaten and molested by the SARS operatives. Mr Adeniyi Jones was dealt with seriously to a point he was bleeding profusely from the mouth, ear and nose before he was bundled into the awaiting hilux vehicle and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Ring Road, Osogbo.

“It took the intervention of Human Right Commission and top police officers in Osun State before Mr Adeniyi Jones was released at noon on the following day for medical treatment and to report at the SARS office in Lagos.”

When asked why the prosecutor of the case, Mr Sunday Ajayi who was also allegedly beaten and hit with gun boot on the head by the SARS operatives was not included in the petition, the Publicity Secretary of the CDHR, Mr Ismaeel Uthman said the group was concerned about the innocent civilians, saying he expect the police prosecutor to have made a formal complaint at his station for onward transmission to the state police commissioner.

The petition which was signed by Chairman and Secretary, Comrades Akinrinade Wahab and Emmanuel Olowu respectively added: “We wish to put on record that Mrs Kikelomo Kayode Oladipupo had sometimes last year brought SARS operatives from Ikeja, Lagos state to arrest Mr Adeniyi Jones in Osogbo and was detained for two days.

“We equally learnt that the SARS operatives came to arrest Jones based on a petition written by Oladipupo to the IGP’s office, accusing Mr Adeniyi Jones of threat to life, issuance of dud check and fraud. They said petition was reportedly directed to their office at Adeniji Adele Zone for investigation.”

The human right group said the conduct of the SARS operative was uncivilized and capable of smearing the image of the police force, adding that it is a total contradiction to the campaign of ‘police is your friend’.

“We do not want an innocent soul to get punished unjustly and we do not want ‘anybody’ that is guilty of criminal conduct to go scot-free. We do not want a situation where the police would be used as agent of threat, brutalization, harassment, victimization and intimidation.

“We do not want a situation where the Nigeria Police Force would be seen as compromised, unfriendly, uncivilized and inefficient. A situation where the police are acting on the statement of the complainants without investigation is a threat to societal peace and social justice”, the group stated.

CDHR called on the police boss to investigate the conduct of the SARS operatives as and take appropriate action on them, and demanded for reassignment of the petition before the SARS office in Lagos to another division.

“We want your good office to ensure fair, objective and dispassionate investigation on the petition anywhere it is assigned to”, the human right group submitted.