Lawyer petitions CP over police impunity

A legal practitioner, Chibuzor Ezike, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Sadiq Bello, over the prolonged detention of a citizen despite a bail granted by a court. Ezike, in two separate petitions dated November 13 and 23, 2017, accused the police of acting in impunity and abuse of the human rights of Ekene Ubadire, Obinna […]

A legal practitioner, Chibuzor Ezike, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Sadiq Bello, over the prolonged detention of a citizen despite a bail granted by a court.

Ezike, in two separate petitions dated November 13 and 23, 2017, accused the police of acting in impunity and abuse of the human rights of Ekene Ubadire, Obinna Ebiko and Confidence Istifanus.

The three were arrested on the streets on allegations of attempted theft and were detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Abuja from mid October.

They were eventually charged before an Upper Area Court, Karimu and were granted bail on October 27, 2017. Despite perfecting the bails, the suspects were not released as directed by the court.

“We assumed you were not aware of the impunity and the illegality complained about in the said letter but to our utmost chagrin, 10 days after the issue was brought to your knowledge these innocent citizens are still wallowing in the SARS detention facility,” he said.

“In view of the foregoing we  most respectively register our disappointment against the force and once again we request for the immediate release of the defendants in strict compliance with the order of the court as there is no justification whatsoever for their continuing detention,” he added.