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August 19, 2013

EFCC operative’s family petitions AIG over police brutality

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar 

Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar

Family members of a senior detective in the Operations Department of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Effa Okim, have petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in Charge of Zone 6, Mr. Samuel Johnson, over his “brutal attack” by some policemen.

Zone 6, with headquarters in Calabar, comprises Cross River, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi states.

In the petition signed by Mr. Raymond Obaji and made available to our correspondent on Sunday, the family called on the AIG to expedite investigation into the attack on their son by policemen under the alleged instruction of an Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Ebonyi State Command.

The family wondered why a citizen of Nigeria could be wantonly “brutalised” by the police who are supposed to protect lives without cause, calling for justice to be done.

Meanwhile, Okim had applied to the Federal High Court in Abakiliki for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

In the application by Okim’s counsel, Mr. Patrick Ekuri, it was alleged that the ACP and 10 others, nine of whom were in mufti, attacked and battered the applicant on February 28, 2013 at 10pm while he was swimming in a pool at Adig Suites in Abakiliki.

According to the affidavit deposed to by Okim, the 10 persons had approached Okim at the swimming pool and ordered him to come out of the water.

Okim said he ignored the order because he thought they were kidnappers.

The EFCC official added that, instead, he demanded an explanation for the order. He said immediately after his question, the policemen descended on him, beating him up.

He said later, he was dragged to the ACP who was drinking with some guests. Okim added that on knowing his identity as an EFCC official, the ACP slapped him and ordered his boys to beat him further.

He said, “The ACP demanded to know my identity and on knowing that I was working with EFCC, he slapped me saying ‘you are stupid and lucky that they didn’t kill you.’”

The EFCC operative said he was smuggled by sympathetic guests out of the hotel for treatment.

When contacted, the Assistant Inspector-General in charge of Zone 6 said investigation was already ongoing on the matter.

Johnson said, “Mr. Okim should have confidence in our ability and that of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, to handle the matter.”
 

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