PRESS BRIEFING You will recall that the Eagle Crack Team commanded by SUPOL BENSON ADETUYI arrested Mr. Chima Ikwunado

PRESS BRIEFING

You will recall that the Eagle Crack Team commanded by SUPOL BENSON ADETUYI arrested Mr. Chima Ikwunado (now of blessed memory), MESSRS Victor Ogbonna, Osaze Friday, Ifeanyi Osuji and Ifeanyi Onyekwere on the 19th December, 2019, detained and tortured them, in the course of which Chima Ikwunado met his untimely death.

As you are aware, the Rivers Civil Society Organizations petitioned the House of Representative Committee on Public petition demanding that SUPOL BENSON ADETUYI and INSPECTOR SAM AMADI that were excluded/exonerated from prosecution by the Police should face Police investigation and be subjected to criminal trial in Court on the following grounds;

1. That they supervised and conspired in the murder of MR. Chima Ikwunado and the torture of other four (4) Ikoku Mechanics.

2. That SUPOL BENSON ADETUYI lied to the whole world that he has conducted autopsy on MR. Chima Ikwunado and  he died of High blood sugar. Meanwhile, when the Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police ordered for another round of autopsy, the pathologist from the Police confirmed that autopsy has not be done on  MR. Chima Ikwunado before, and he died of Extreme torture.

3. Despite the fact that, the owners of the two (2) cars have testified that their cars belong to them and the mechanics are not criminals on the 28th day of December, 2019. SUPOL BENSON ADETUYI and INSPECTOR SAM AMADI still charged this innocent mechanics to Court on the 6th day of January, 2020 for arm robbery and cultism.

4. That based on the Anti-Torture Act 2017, which in section 7 (1) to (4)  states clearly that “The immediate commanding officer of the  concerned  security of Law enforcement agencies is held liable as an accessory to the crime for any act or omission or negligence on his part that may have led to the commission of torture by his subordinates”. Underlining mine. 

Surprisingly, the Police that have refused to appear twice before the committee, appeared on the third sitting and came with court documents that the matter is in Court.

On our part, we argued that what is before the Court is;

1. Prosecution of the four (4) officers, out of six (6) officers in this case.

2. The victims (Ikoku five) filing fundamental right suit against the police and demanding for monetary compensation.

RIVCSO maintained that the issue that brought us before the Committee is solely our demand for the investigation and prosecution of SUPOL BENSON ADETUYI and INSPECTOR SAM AMADI and this matter is not before any Court in Nigeria or anywhere in the world. 

Unfortunately, a member of the House of Representative Committee on Public Complaints- S. Ibrahim informed the Committee that the House of Representative Rules prevents them from hearing any matter that is in Court partly or in the whole as a result, the Chairman of the Committee- Jerry Alagboso agreed with the submission of S. Ibrahim. He said for the House to continue with this matter, petitioners should withdraw all the matters in Court and adjourned the matter to any time parties inform the Committee that the matters have been withdrawn from Court.

Rivers Civil Society Organization have consulted with the victims (Ikoku five and have resolved that we will not withdraw the matter in Court but we will rather exhaust all legal options in the matter. RIVCSO, have instructed our lawyers to approach the Court for an order to compel the Police service commission and the Inspector General of Police to investigate and prosecute SUPOL BENSON ADETUYI and INSPECTOR SAM AMADI for the roles they played in the death of Mr. Chima Ikwunado and the bodily harm of the four (4) other automechanics. RIVCSO have equally written to the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to specifically bring this erring officers to book. 

………………………………………….

COMR. ENEFAA GEORGEWILL 

Chairman 

RIVERS CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS