BY RADIO NIGERIA
The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed an Inspector, Benjamin Peters for professional misconduct and misuse of arms.
Police legal officer, Mr. James Idachaba stated this in Abuja at the Independent Investigative Panel on alleged Human Rights Violations by the defunct Special Antirobbery Squad, SARS and other units of the police Force.
Inspector Benjamin Peters was one of the officers accused by the family of the late Miss Linda Igwetu of shooting and killing their daughter in 2018 at about 3 o’clock in the morning at a police checkpoint immediately after Ceddi Plaza in the Central Area,l of Abuja.
The Late Miss Linda Igwetu was to pass out from her National Youth Service a day after her death.
The police Legal officer, James Idachaba said a prima facie case was established against Peters after his orderly room trial.
He further explained that since police officers could not appear in uniform in court, he was dismissed to enable him to respond to allegations of professional misconduct and misuse of arms.
Mr. Idachaba, however, said no case of culpable homicide was instituted against him though.
The case was adjourned until the 1st of next month for the Chief Medical Director of Garki hospital and the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council to react to allegation of negligence.
A case of unlawful arrest, detention, extortion and disappearance of one Ogaga Ohore was also heard at the panel.
Ogaga was allegedly arrested at a football viewing centre in Abacha road, Mararaba, Nasarawa state by the men of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team on the 12th of January last year.
One of the witnesses who testified before the panel, Maxwell Ekpo said two policemen in mufti came to the viewing centre and took Ogaga away after scaring the people away by firing gunshots into the air.
According to the petition by the family of Ogaga, his wife and two children were also arrested and detained for three days at the SARS, FCT, Abuja for coming to make enquiry about their husband and father.
Also heard at the panel was a case of alleged extra judicial killing of one Kennedy Yusuf by officers of the Jikwoyi, a suburb in the FCT, Police Station on the 12th of January, 2007.
The complainant, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mamman Danladi told the panel that Kennedy, his nephew, who was arrested for allegedly stealing two bags of cement, later died in police custody.
After cross examination, the Police Legal Officer, Mr. James Idachaba argued that the autopsy report presented by the complainant never in any way indicted the police over the death of kennedy, as doctor’s statement indicated that he died of shock and kidney failure.
The cases were adjourned until the 25th of this month and 16th of next month for continuation of hearing.