#EndSARS: Police Knocked Out My Teeth, Sold My Properties, Witness Tells Lagos Panel
The Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS-related abuses, on Tuesday heard the testimony of one Okolie Agwu, who claimed he was assaulted by men of the Special Anti-Robery Squad (SARS).
Chairperson of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (retd.), presided over the proceedings, which held at the Lagos Court of Arbitration, Lekki, and monitored by THE WHISTLER.
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The complainant told the panel that he was accused by his former boss, and was subsequently arrested by the police and later transferred to the SARS in Ikeja.
He claimed that though he was tortured and his properties sold, the Federal High Court later passed a Judgment in his favour.
He added that the police had yet to comply with it.
He gave details, “I worked with that company for four and half years and I stated I want to resign, of which my boss then authenticated my resignation.
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“After some days, I was called upon for some clarification of which I came; but when I arrived I was arrested…it was the Ojo Police Station that took me out and then handed me over to Ikeja SARS and I was like what is going on?
“They said there was a complaint against me from my boss, that his goods got missing..they started beating me, they called me a fraudster and paraded me around the Alaba International Market. The beating was too much, they broke my head.
“My wife told me that they took over my house, sold my car, took my belongings inside my house, my properties and they did not bring them for me to even see.
“All they told me I was to write a statement that I embezzled money, but I refuses, and they said they would take me to the Magistrates’ Court; they even extracted two teeth from my mouth.
“My family later intervened and my matter was taken to the Federal High Court on fundamental rights enforcement and graciously to God the Honourable Justice Ibrahim Buba gave a judgment in my favour at N10 million as exemplary damages.
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“As stated… it actually happened in 2012, I used to work with a company although this matter has gone to court but the thing is that SARS and the police have not even paid one naira up till today, regardless of the judgment of the Federal High Court.”
However, a panel member asked the complainant if he had a copy of the judgment on the Federal High Court as claimed.
He responded in the affirmative, adding that he came to the panel with it.
Justice Okuwobi (retd.) admitted Okolie Agwu’s evidence, stressing that the “Judgment of the Federal High Court of Justice I.M Buba…is admitted as exhibit A.”
Furthermore, she assured that the panel would not compromise its integrity on all cases associated with alleged police brutality and Lekki Tollgate shootings.
“We will do our best to discharged justice as regards SARS and the events of 20 of October 2020.”
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On the first complainant’s matter, it was announced that “the panel will make its findings within seven working days from today.”
