By Godwin Edeh
In continuation of hearing at the eight-man Judicial Panel on Investigation into Human Rights Violations by the Police and the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Makurdi office has appeared before the judicial panel and testified.
The Commission testified before the panel on the alleged extra-judicial killing of one Ngbede Christopher Ameh in 2017 at Adoka, Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue state.
Under cross examination by the police prosecuting counsel and Head of Legal Department, Benue Command, Superintendent of police, FN Agwu, Mr Ogbole Bernard, a Higher Executive Officer with NHRC Benue State office told the panel that, on 23 August, 2017, he received correspondence from their headquarters in Abuja on the alleged extra-judicial killing of Ngbede Christopher Ameh and was assigned the case to investigate and so was conversant with the matter.
Mr Ogbole told the panel that, in the course of his investigation, he went to Adoka, the scene of the incident and met the then DPO, DSP Yahaya Bawa who told him that the case has been transferred to Makurdi on the order of the then Commissioner of Police, Mr Bashir Makama.
He tendered before the panel, the report of his findings dated 16 October, 2017, a letter from the NHRC Abuja to state coordinator dated 18 October, 2017, correspondence between his office and that of the commissioner of police among others were also admitted in evidence.
Still testifying, Agwu asked Mr Ogbole whether he was aware that, there was a robbery at Adoka where a businessman was robbed of N1 million and his shop vandalised with four persons later arrested and confessed to the crime and stated that Ngbede Christopher Ameh (now deceased) led the operation? Mr. Ogbole in response said he was not aware.
The petitioner’s counsel, O.M Eche told the panel that he has one more witness yet to testify and promised to present him on the next adjourned date.
Subsequently, the matter was adjourned to 26 January, 2021 for further hearing.
