By Gabriel Atumeyi
The executive secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Tony Ojukwu, has disclosed that all relevant documents needed for the prosecution of 33 indicted Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) including case files and evidence, have been submitted to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for prosecution.
In 2019, a presidential panel had indicted 35 police officers in 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) but recommended 33 for prosecution.
But the AGF, Abubakar Malami, had said the panel chaired by Ojukwu did not carry out a proper investigation and failed to establish the needed evidence to prosecute the officers.
“Admissible evidence such as exhibits, medical evidence, statements of the suspects and witnesses that can be used in court has not been obtained or recorded in the appropriate sheet from the suspects and witnesses by the appropriate,” he stated.
Ojukwu said areas of concern raised by the AGF had been addressed, with relevant materials, including the original case files, forwarded to his office for further action.
He added that the documents were also submitted to the Police Service Commission (PSC) and Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police.
“We have sent all the original cases files, not only to him (the AGF), but to all the states, because the law says it is either the attorney general of the federation or the attorney general of the states,” he was quoted to have said.
“There are about 13 states involved, and I can assure you that we have dispersed all the original case files to all the 13 states.
“Secondly, we have submitted the list of these officers, with other necessary documents to both the Police Service Commission and the inspector general of police.
“So, they need to do the needful. Moving forward, I expect that, once these internal procedures are tidied up, they should be able to do what they are supposed to do. This is because, as at today, we have sorted out these two obstacles identified by the AGF.”