Groups To Petition Buhari Over Late Rivers Mechanic

A non-government organization, Extra Steps Initiative (ESI) has said it would petition President Muhammadu Buhari over what it called the poor handling of the circumstances surrounding the death of a mechanic, Chima Ikwunado, and the alleged torture of the Ikoku Four by operatives of the Eagle Crack Team of the Rivers State Police Command.
Similarly, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has advised the police to give a copy of the autopsy report conducted on the late mechanic to his family’s lawyer on or before March 10, in their own interest.
Justice J.K. Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt gave the advice, yesterday, when lawyer to Chima Ikwunado’s family, Princess Chinyere Lawrence reported to the court that the police were yet to give her the report days after it was released by the pathologist.
Justice Omotosho said failure by the police to comply would be seen as if they have something to hide; just as he adjourned the matter to March 10, for hearing.
The suit was instituted by the Civil Society Coalition based in Port Harcourt.
Speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the Executive Director of the Extra Steps Initiative, Eugene Abels, disclosed that the move follows the continued delay by the police to prosecute those indicted in the matter and the move by the Commissioner of Police, Mustapha Dandaura to attempt to settle a ‘capital offence’ out of court.
Abels noted with dismay that a similar matter that occurred in Sagamu, Ogun State, could receive speedy intervention, leading to the dismissal of the police officer involved, whereas in Rivers State, such matter is being delayed, noting that the double standard was unacceptable.
According to him, “We find it out of place. In this matter, the police is the defendant. It is out of place for the plaintiff to be going to the defendant to get a copy of the autopsy report. Number two, it is taking several months and even media reports stating that the commissioner of police is asking for a settlement or suggesting it in a matter that concerns a capital offense. It is out of place.
“And this is where the Inspector General of Police (IGP) should be called to order. So, we at the Extra Steps Initiative, we are going to do a petition to the President, and we will copy the IGP and the Attorney General of Federation. We want to call for an inquest”, he added.
The group’s executive director further revealed that he would demand an investigation to probe the creation of the Eagle Crack Unit and the role the Judiciary played in the detention of the Ikoku Four at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre.
“How could the police, just right under their noses, a team will be created with a torture chamber in place called the Eagle Crack Squad which reports directly to a commissioner of police. We need to conduct an inquest to know who gave those orders.
“Where did they get the authorization from, and under what condition these men under arms have functioned that pushed them to the point of being able to torture a man to death? We need to do an inquest to know why the Judiciary in Rivers State tolerates the Nigerian Police to deliberately charge people to wrong courts, and the Magistrate, instead of turning them back, remands these people in prison,” he stated.

Dennis Naku