End SARS: Judicial Panel Summons Ex Sars Commander Nwafor
The Judicial Panel of Inquiry in Awka, capital of Anambra on Thursday summoned CSP James Nwafor (Rtrd) former Commander at disbanded Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), Awkuzu officer to appear and defend himself on allegations against him.
Hon. Justice Veronica Umeh, chairman of the panel made the order while granting the prayer of Abdul Mahmud, counsel to Mr Emmanuel Iloanya, father of Chijioke Iloanya who was alleged to have been extra judiciously killed in 2012.
Abdul’s prayer followed the response made by the police through its counsel, SP Innocent Obi where in the police admitted that Chijioke died in its custody.
Abdul said though the narrative of the police about the cause of the victim’s death was different from that of the petitioner, it was in agreement with his claim that his son died while in police custody.
The petitioner’s counsel demanded that the original of the Police Investigation Report be tendered at the panel as the photocopy presented looked too new to have been prepared in 2013.
He reminded the panel that the police had earlier averred under oath that that the case file had burnt at Neni office of SARS.
He therefore prayed the court to summon every individual mentioned in the police response including, Nwafor, DSP Abatanume Joe, Insp. Hyacinth Nwankwo, ASP Bonaventure Ishika, Commander SARS Neni office and CMD Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital(NAUTH).
The panel granted the prayer for all the police officers but directed that the CMD produce all the medical facts
The police in the report said the deceased was shot by hoodlums on motorcycle after which he was rushed to NAUTH where he was confirmed dead.
The prayer that the original of the report was also granted and the matter was adjourned to Dec. 8.
