- Safiu Kehinde
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for the arrest and prosecution of other police officers involved in the public execution of Mene Ogidi over alleged possession of gun.
NBA made the call in reaction to the Nigeria Police Force arrest of ASP Nuhu Usman, the principal officer who shot the 28-year-old suspect dead in a viral video circulated on social media on Tuesday.
NPO Reported that the police had in the wake of the incident arrested Usman and his colleagues involved in the extra-judicial killing.
They were transferred to Abuja where they were formally dismissed from the Force.
However, the Police detained only Usman for prosecution over the murder of Ogidi while the other officers were simply dismissed without any further action against them.
While commending the Police for the dismissal of the officers, the NBA, in a statement issued by its President, Afam Osigwe, faulted the decision to only prosecute Usman.
The association demanded the prosecution of the other dismissed officers as they were alleged to have abetted Usman’s killing of the suspect.
“While we commend the Police for condemning and arresting the main perpetrator, but this is not enough.
“The viral video clearly shows that other policemen aided or were involved in this heinous act.
“The investigation, arrest and prosecution process must extend to any other officer may have counselled aided or abetted the extra-judicial killing as they all will be jointly liable for the heinous act.
“We therefore call for the immediate prosecution and trial of all officers involved in this heinous act.
“We demand that the prosecution be conducted with full transparency and urgency.
“The Nigerian people deserve to see that the law applies equally to all, including those entrusted with its enforcement.” Osigwe wrote.
The NBA President warned that any attempt to shield, delay, or dilute accountability in this matter will further erode public confidence in law enforcement institutions and will be firmly resisted by the Bar.
Reflecting on the incident, the NBA condemned the unprovoked show of power by the officer which again put the police on the spotlight of routine violation of rights.
“This is an arbitrary, unprovoked and misguided show of power by a law enforcement agent.
“Not only did the act clearly show that the policeman took the law into his hands but portrayed the Nigerian Police Force in a bad light.
“The sordid act once more put under the spotlight the unceasing allegations that law policemen routinely violate the rights of criminal suspects and even innocent persons.
“The NBA unequivocally condemns this act. No officer of the law, regardless of rank or circumstance, has the right to act as prosecutor, judge, and executioner.” The statement read.
The NBA affirmed the provision of the 1999 constitution which stated that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
This, according to Osigwe is largely violated by law enforcement agents.
“Regrettably, many law enforcement and executive functionaries fail to abide by the terms of the laws which set them up as well as regulate their actions, but this is not always the case.
“They continue to act in manner which must not be encouraged in all decent societies.
“Some of such actions are usually unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful infringement on the right of individuals.
“If such unlawful actions by the security agencies continue unchecked, fundamental rights of people may not amount to much in such a climate of impunity.
“No society should allow such action to go unpunished.” The NBA President stated.
He further noted that the gravity of the offence captured in the video strikes at the very heart of humanity, the rule of law, and the constitutional guarantees of the right to life and dignity of the human person.
Osigwe further expressed concern over the murder of Ogidi in a public space.
“It is s worrisome that in this 21st century, a policeman will summarily execute an alleged robber in a devil-may-care attitude.
“More worrisome is the fact that the summary execution was carried out in full public glare in grave violation of laws regulating the treatment of a criminal suspect or alleged thief.” He said.
The NBA President thereafter directed the association’s Human Rights Committees to keep tab with the development and ensure all necessary legal and institutional steps are taken for justice to be diligently pursued and ultimately served.
“We hereby direct the Human Rights Committees of the NBA in Warri, Effurun and Udu in Delta State to continue to confront such matters as well as monitor the sequence of events to ensure that this matter is properly investigated and prosecuted.
“In furtherance of this, the NBA Human Rights Committee and Civil Liberties Committee are hereby directed to closely monitor allegations of violations of citizens rights in any other place, engage with relevant authorities, and take all necessary legal and institutional steps to ensure that justice is diligently pursued and ultimately served.
“We reiterate our strong deprecation of this unsavoury conduct.
“It must stop. We must rise to ensure this and similar recklessness acts, stop. The bad policemen in the Force must be shown the way out to avoid giving it a bad name.” Osigwe added.
The NBA extended its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased while calling for a comprehensive police reform.
“We share in their grief at this painful and avoidable loss, and we assure them that we will continue to press for accountability so that justice is done and the memory of their loved one is not diminished by impunity.
“This incident once again underscores the urgent need for comprehensive police reform, particularly in the areas of accountability, use of force, and respect for human rights.” The association concluded.