By Kenneth Onuoha
A popular clergy man in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, Ugbala Solomon (Church withheld) has accused the proscribed Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) of allegedly killing two of his members.
He accused the proscribed SARS of invading his church at Ezza Egu Community, Ezza North local government area of the state when they were preparing for a programme in the area.
Ugbala made the revelation while testifying before the judicial panel of enquiry set up by the state government, headed by a retired Chief Judge of the state, Justice Alloy Nwankwo. at the old government house, Abakaliki.
365DAILY gathered that the victims; Monday Oshim and Emeka Nwalobu Eze, were killed following an allegation of involvement in kidnapping by a suspect, one Nonso.
The pastor said, “On Saturday, 6th day of June 2020, I was in our church organising a place where people that will attending for our programme will stay, when four jeeps conveying policemen came behind and stopped.
“A boy called Nonso came out handcuffed and pointed at my youth leaders called Monday Oshim and Emeka Nwalobu Eze. The police threatened to shoot at them if they ran. As a result of the threat, they started running then the police gunned them down and carried their corpses and motorcycles to Abakaliki.”
He further narrated that surprisingly, the following day, the police alleged that they were kidnappers who were killed during an exchange of gun fire with the police.
The clergy noted that they have written to Department of “AK and SARS” and equally brought the same complaint to the Judicial Panel to ensure that justice is done in their brothers’ death.
In a swift reaction, the police defendants, Mr. Ceaser S.U and A .C Ndubuaku, after a cross examination, stated that Pastor Solomon Ugbala is a false witness who, according to them, had little or no knowledge about the incident but was bought over to come and give false witness against the police.
They added that the notice was not served to them on time but appealed to the chairman of the panel to give them more time to study the matter and prepare before the panel.
Responding, the chairman of the panel, Justice Alloy Nwankwo (Rtd), granted their prayers in order to ensure fair hearing and justice to all parties involved and adjourned their sitting to hold on 23rd and 26th of November, 2020.
He tasked them to study the matter very well, stressing that all due process must be followed and, therefore, solicited for their maximum cooperation in order to be fair to all the parties involved in the matter.