By Angela Atabo
Lawyers for Reform Group(LRG), has called on President Bola Tinubu and the Inspector-General of Police(IGP) Ag. IGP Olukayode Egbetokun to investigate alleged cases of police brutality and other cases of unprofessionalism against Nigerians.
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Mr Aare Hassan, Executive Project Director of the group, made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
Hassan said the group was also petitioning the police on the brutality of one Mr Samusideen Oluwo and five others in Lagos as well as the attempted murder of Adeyinka Igbenoba.
He said that the police were also petitioned on the alleged mass killings, invasion and forceful displacements of inhabitants of Ilamija, Yeguda, Abomiti, Eyin Osa communities in Epe.
He said that others included alleged biased investigations among other irregularities .
“LRG is a group of public interest lawyers committed to ensuring protection of fundamental rights and equitable justice.
“We readily offered to rescue Mr Samusideen Oluwo ,a victim of attempted murder case but arrested and converted as suspect alongside his co-workers.
“On their behalf and instruction we call on the inspector general of police to match his word with immediate actions for onward sanitisation of the Nigeria Police Force.
“We demand justice over the perennial lack of professionalism, several complaints against police actions, criminal conspiracy and police brutality.”
Hassan said the above therefore ,said the group’s urgent request was for the immediate discontinuance of prosecution of Samusideen Oluwo and other victims who were grievously and brutally attacked.
He said that they were deliberately beaten to stupor and thrown naked on a live video, which was posted on all social media intentionally aimed at criminally defaming and to cause them monumental embarrassments.
“We by this call on the IGP to direct the CP Provost Marshal to immediately commence action to sanction all erring police officers found culpable in this heinous criminal acts .
“We further demand the IGP’s to recall all pending related cases in all police formations in general for proper unbiased investigation, harmonisation, consolidation and prosecution at a court of competent jurisdiction accordingly.’’
Hassan said the group was aghast and disturbed to see the unending absurdity, unprofessional conducts, biased investigation and gross insubordination to disobey the IGP’s earlier instructions on the same matters at various points in time.
He said that the petition was predicated on the fact that the victims have suffered lots of ill-treatments in the hands of police personnel.
“We further reiterate that if nothing urgent is done to caution, investigate and rescue the situation, the culprits are ready to wreck further which could disturb the fragile peace in Nigeria.
“Our request is that, we appeal to President Bola Tinubu, Gov. Babajide Sanwolu to wake up and ask the IGP to urgently caution the police formations and prosecute the culprits accordingly.
“The to address Nigerians and ensure to investigate, harmonise, conclude all pending related investigations, and call the officers to order over their unscrupulous actions.’’
Hassan said that this would bring to an end the incessant attacks, ensure the victims gets justice and respite, as well put an end to frivolous petitions, and enable the indicted parties face investigation accordingly.
