By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr John Bassey Abang has apologised to Okite family in Ogidi, Idemili North Local Government Area over alleged extortion of N23,000 and harassment perpetuated by some officers attached to Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Divisional Police Headquarters, Ogidi.
Abang, who also ordered SARS to quickly refund the money which was equally complied to since Friday, assured that the command would discipline the erring officers. Her action could be said to be in line with popular police maxim "Bail is free" as well as in line with Part 2 (section 7) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which states that "A person shall not be arrested in place of a suspect."
The Police Commissioner's intervention followed a message dropped on a WhatsApp group, Police Stakeholders Partnership Forum (PSPF), by Mr Okite, an Onitsha- based legal practitioner and member of the group that his family members were arrested and harassed by SARS officers while pursuing a suspect.
"Today 14/5/2020, men of SARS attached to Divisional Police Headquarters Ogidi in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State were allegedly pursuing a suspect, and according to them the suspect ran through my family compound in Ogidi (my family compound has no wall fence), when they couldn't catch their alleged target, the men of SARS then arrested my two (2) nephews; Kosisochukwu Okite and Chukwunonso Okite insisting they must produce the alleged suspect who they claimed ran through my family compound. The men of SARS hand-cuffed my two nephews and took them to Ogidi Police Station despite protestations by their parents. They also scattered their father's shop, beat up my niece, Chisom Okite and tore her clothes leaving her naked simply because she was disuading them from taking away her brothers who are innocent."
"On getting to the station those SARS men demanded 100,000 Naira as bail money from the boys' father, Mr. Augustine Okite; apprehensive for the safety of his sons, he was literally forced to pay 20,000 Naira for their freedom. The boys are home with their parents now after payment of 20,000 Naira.' Meanwhile the cost of the damage the SARS men did to my elder brother's shop is worth about 50,000 Naira. Please, kindly escalate this. SARS men attached to Ogidi should be called to order and made to refund that sum of 20,000 Naira they extorted as bail money from parents whose homes they invaded for no just cause and pay for the damages they did to their shop,” Barr. Okite wrote.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Haruna Muhammad, who represents the Commissioner in the platform, quickly alerted his boss. The Commissioner of Police, it was learnt, promptly directed that the OC SARS Awkuzu be contacted and directed to identify the officers responsible and ensure they refund the money collected.
“Good morning Sir, kindly inform the victims to go to SARS office Akwuzu and collect their money .The Commissioner of Police has directed that the money must be returned before 11:am and I communicated same message to the OC. Let me know when they collect the money to enable me update the CP please. You can contact the OC SARS through this number as well 08147588855,” Haruna responded.
The CP intervention elicited quick commendation note from PSPF through its leadership, the Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, Prince Prince Chris Azor, Coordinator PSPF and Barr. Chisom Chude, Secretary PSPF.
Nwanguma first reported that he received a call from the Officer in Charge of Awkzu requesting him to direct the affected family to see him in his office for a refund of the money.
“This morning (Friday), the Officer in Charge (O/C), Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) Awkuzu, Anambra State, put a call to the Executive Director, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) requesting him to ask the aggrieved party in a case of unlawful arrest and extortion to meet him in his office at Awkuzu for a refund of the sum extorted from them by some officials of SARS. This was in compliance with the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP John Abang,” he stated.
The forum in its commendation letter wrote “We are delighted to note that the victims had audience with the CP after they went to the O/C SARS and got refunded. They reported that the CP 'exhibited utmost civility and leadership; apologised to us on behalf of the Command for the excesses of the SARS men and made a commitment that disciplinary actions against the erring men will follow. They said they left CP's office happy and satisfied that the injustice has been addressed and is still being addressed by the CP.
“PSPF commends the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP John Abang for his prompt response to public complaints and for standing up against corruption and human rights violations. PSPF will continue to collaborate with and support the command in its efforts to serve and protect Anambra citizens and residents with integrity. PSPF calls on the CP to remain steadfast and be assured of the support of Anambra citizens and residents represented by PSPF. PSPF also commends the PPRO for his cooperation with the Forum and for his competence, diligence and effectiveness in communication and public relations.”
It would be recalled that Police Stakeholders Partnership Forum (PSPF) was officially launched by the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. John Abang in Awka on November 27, 2019 to fill the gap in citizens awareness of the Anambra State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2010 and to address the deficit in monitoring capacity within communities.
RULAAC, in collaboration with the Anambra State Police Command, with support from Open Society Justice Initiative, fostered the Police Stakeholders Partnership Forum (PSPF) in Anambra State as a platform for monitoring compliance by the NPF with the ACJL. With the roll-out of community policing by the NPF, the platform also serves to promote stakeholders understanding and participation in its implementation. The platform serves as a mechanism for holding NPF personnel to account for rights violations, while growing skills and awareness to ensure prevention and reduction of such violations.
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