 |
| The late Syracuse |
*No!
He was shot while trying to escape-Police
It
was nothing short of a horror film, when a father visited his only son in a
police station, who was being held for kidnapping and discovered that he had
allegedly been tortured by electric pressing iron. There were lacerations all
over his body.
The
old man had not yet gotten over the shock of the horrifying lacerations on his
son’s body, when he heard that the young man had simply disappeared from police
custody.
After
weeks traipsing down to the police station, to ask that his son be presented to
him, he decided to approach Network on Police Reform (NOPRIN), a nongovernmental
organization.
Since
then, the old man’s had had to go through hell emotionally and psychologically,
as he soon learnt that his son had been killed.
The
old man, Chief Fidelis Ejimonye did not only lost his only son, but his broken
hearted wife, also died while waiting fruitlessly for their son to appear
again.
Chief Fidelis Ejimonye, father to one Syracuse', who allegedly disappeared while in police
net.
Ejimonye
claimed that his son, Syracus Ejimonye was arrested in his presence on the April
6, 2008 at Etekwuru Egbema, their hometown, by a team of policemen who
came from Imo State CID, Owerri.
Following his
son's arrest, he went to Imo State CID, Owerri on April 10th and upon inquiring at the SCID, was
told by the police that his son’s name was not in their record.
Four days later, his
daughter Caroline Igwe travelled to Owerri to further inquire about her
brother at the SCID Owerri, whereupon she discovered that her brother, Syracus
was in the custody of the CIB, Owerri.
The Investigating Police
Officer (IPO) is one Onyekachi, whose surname and rank were not readily known.
On further enquiry, Caroline
was told that her brother was arrested following a report lodged at the police
by one Mr. Amadioha, their town’s man.
The crime he allegedly committed
Amadioha was said to have
accused Syracus of having conspired with other undisclosed persons and
attempted to kidnap his mother. However, the other undisclosed persons were not
in the custody of the CIB.
Chief Ejimonye told NOPRIN
that sometimes in May 2008, he went back to the State CID and was eventually
allowed to see his son, but he could hardly recognized
him as he had been defaced with a hot electric iron in the course of
interrogation.
“Subsequently, his second
daughter- Angelina Chijioke, who resides in Owerri, was going to the CIB to
make feeding provision for Syracus. The Police at CIB Owerri neither admitted
his son on bail nor charged him to court up to November 10, 2010
when the old man last visited the Police Station but could not see him again.
“On that day (November 10,
2010), on inquiry, a female police officer told him that his son went out to
purchase something, and he waited all through that day until later, the IPO
advised him to go with his people and plead with the complainant- Mr. Amadioha.
Nwanguma recalled: “He went
home and pleaded with Mr. Amadioha who responded that ‘he didn’t remove him
(Syracuse) from the SCID to be executed.’ Till that date, neither he nor
any members of his family had set eyes on Syracus again. He had altogether six
children, among whom Syracus is the only male child.
“The rest five who are
female are all married, leaving him all alone as his wife eventually died on January
10, 2011 with the agony of the disappearance of their only son.
“He addressed a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command
dated 0/5/2011, and narrated the heartrending episode of the arrest, torture
and disappearance of his son, and demanded that the police should let him know
the whereabouts of his son or produced him in court.
“He further demanded that
the police should let him know which prison his son was serving terms- if he had been formally charged, convicted and
imprisoned for any recognizable offense; or – if they have killed him, they
should release his dead body to him for a decent burial, and that he would be
very grateful if his humble request would be granted.
“He never received any reply
from the CP Imo or knew of any action taken by the CP in order to unravel the
apparent mystery of his son’s disappearance.”
NOPRIN’s quest for justice and kick against police
torture of victims
Nwanguman
said that NOPRIN expressed concern at the rampant and frequent incidences of
disappearance of criminal suspects and other detainees in the custody of the
Headquarters of Imo State Police Command.
Nwanguma
said: “NOPRIN noted that during its Public Tribunal in Owerri in 2010, there
were several cases of alleged kidnappers and other criminal suspects who were
shot on their legs. The police often shoot such suspects on the leg in the
course of arrest or as an interrogation technique to extract confession or to
punish them. In most cases, such suspects eventually disappear from police custody
without any trace.
“NOPRIN
expressed belief that in a democracy, and under the rule of law, the Police
cannot be the accuser, investigator, judge and executioner. All that the law
permits the police to do is to charge a suspect to court if they have credible
evidence to prosecute and secure conviction, not
to summarily execute them.”
According
to the spokesman NOPRIN wrote and called on the National Human Right Commission
to promptly investigate this very horrifying story of the disappearance of a
young man over a mere accusation of attempt, with other undisclosed persons, to kidnap.
‘Policemen involve in the abuse of power, should be
prosecuted’
NOPRIN
noted that unless the policemen involved in this egregious abuse were
investigated and brought to book, they would remain a danger to the society.
“The
family of Chief Ejimonye is entitled to know what happened to their son who was
arrested in their presence and to have his body released to them for decent
burial if the police have, as the family seriously suspected, killed him extra
judicially. The family is also entitled to redress and justice,” said Nwanguma.
After receiving NOPRIN’s letter, National Human Rights Commissions (NHRC’s) wrote the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed
Abubakar and same replied.
By a letter dated May 8, 2012, the
Executive Secretary of the
Police
explanation of how Syracuse was killed
NHRC drew the attention of the IGP to
the foregoing allegations to which the IGP responded via a letter dated July 4,
2012.
In his reply signed by DCP Murtala U. Mani, Principal staff Officer 11 to
Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the IGP commented
as follows: That on the February 22, 2009, a case of conspiracy, kidnapping and
armed robbery was reported by one Frank Allwell Brown of Etekuru Egbema in
Ohaji/Egbema LGA of Imo State against
unknown kidnappers who kidnapped his mother, one Josephine Brown on February
22, 2009 at about 8:30;That after kidnapping the victim, the hoodlums demanded
the sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000.00) as ransom for her release; That
on March 12, 2012 as soon as the ransom money was dropped at New GRA Road
Junction in Igwurita, one David Obi and Bartholomew Ekuma, both of No. 30 Emeka
Road Rumuapu Mkpokwu Road, Port Harcourt, alighted from a Jetta car to pick the
money in the process of which they were arrested by Police operatives; That
while investigation was going on, the remaining gang members who were not
arrested by Police started threatening the son of the victim that if the Police
did not release their colleagues, they will kill the victim; That based on the
threat, the victim’s son, Chris Allwell Brown, without the knowledge of the
Police paid the sum of Fifteen Million (N15,000,000.00) naira to the kidnappers and the victim was
released on March 17, 2009 at about 7:30hrs; That Syracuse Ejimonye of Etekuru
Egbema in Ohaji Egbema LGA was arrested following a tip-off and he attested to
the fact that though he did not take part in the kidnapping of Madam Josephine
Brown but received the sum of Two
hundred thousand Naira (N200,000.00) for
giving the gang information about Chris Allwell son of the victim, which led to the success of
the kidnap operation; That on November 10, 2009, Syracuse Ejimonye, led a team of operatives
to the criminal hideout of the gang where he (Cyracus) attempted to escape but
was hit by bullets which latter led to his death at the Federal Medical Centre
Owerri while receiving treatment; That on March 22, 2009, David Obi took ill in
custody and was rushed to Federal Medical Centre Owerri for treatment where he
later died, while Bartholomew Ekuma was arraigned in court for conspiracy, kidnapping
and armed robbery with others at large. Investigation is still ongoing with a
view to arresting the other fleeing kidnappers.”
‘Police story is unbelievable! Too many discrepancies’
NOPRIN’s immediate reaction
to the police story was utter amazement and stunned unbelief!
“We seriously doubt if the
contents of the letter signed on the IGP's behalf were brought to his attention. We doubt if he will, himself, be convinced by the story line,” argued Nwanguma. “We noted that the same
November 10, 2011 when the police claimed to have taken Syracus to the
kidnappers' hideout, was
the same day that his father came to the CIB asking to see him, but a female
police officer told him that he (Syracus) went out to buy something, before the
IPO later asked him to go home and plead with the complainant. Recall that Mr.
Ejimonye quoted the complainant as saying that he did not pay the police to
take Syracus out and execute him.
“If there was no prior motive to
summarily execute Syracus, why did the police fail to tell his father on that
day that they took him to show them the hideout?
“It
is interesting to hear, for the first time, that the police successfully
arrested a member of a kidnapping gang who appeared to pick up ransom from family members of a hostage. It
sounds strange, if incredible; that the kidnappers’ concern and interest- after
one of their members had been arrested by the police- was still to collect the
ransom rather than the release of their arrested member. The kidnappers’ demand will logically be the release of their arrested member with
a threat to kill the hostage if their member is not
released.
“Even if the ransom was
eventually paid as the police claimed, the kidnappers would still not be
comfortable releasing their hostage, while their member was still in police
custody. We have heard of many instances where kidnappers collected ransom and
still killed the hostage, how much more in a situation where the hostage’s family ‘had the
effrontery’ to report the kidnappers to the police, leading to the arrest of one of them
who came to pick up their ransom.
“The
story by the police that the suspect was leading them to the kidnappers’
hideout and was killed as he attempted to escape, is a familiar story line repeatedly
enacted by the police each time they want to explain away or
cover up a clear case of premeditated and unlawful
killing of suspects. But
assuming that this particular version of the same old story
is true this time around, it is still fraught with wide gaps. The following questions beg for answer: was the
suspect not in handcuff and/or leg chain; How many police officers accompanied
him? Could the police not have shot to demobilize him rather than to kill him? What
happened to the corpse, and why did the police not inform Cyracus’ father- in
whose presence he was arrested- that his son had been shot in an escape bid? Where
is the medical report and who authorised the burial of his corpse- if he has been
buried?”
‘Mix up of
names of complainant showed lies in police story’
Nwanguma insisted that what further exposed the
dubiousness of the police story was the mix up of names in the story.
For
instance, Police claimed that ‘Chris
Allwell Brown, without the knowledge of the Police, paid the sum of Fifteen
Million (N15, 000,000.00) naira to the
kidnappers and the victim was released on March 17, 2009 at about 1930hrs…’ “But
the truth is that Allwell and
Chris are two different individuals. Allwell is the elder brother to Chris and obviously, the police in their report did not realize that they
were referring to two persons as one. This is an indication that there
was no investigation, and this was a
quickly made up story just to provide answers to the IGP who
obviously had referred the petition to the CP Imo for his
comment!
Victim’s father story of how son was arrested by
police
“NOPRIN has drawn the
attention of the Ejimonye family to the IGP’s comments and the father of the
victim comments as
follows: While in church together with every member of my family (Cyracus
inclusive), rumor filtered into my ears that our neighbour, Chris Brown a private
contractor is planning to arrest my son over the abduction of his mother Mrs.
Josephine. I advised my son to leave the
village in the meantime, while I find out why Chris Brown nurses such plans. He
swore to me and said “father I did not do such act.’’ “I believed him when he
further refused to travel to Bayelsa State where he lives, insisting that he
wishes to clear his name. He voluntarily waited for the Police to come, hoping
that he was going to be given a fair hearing”.
Nwanguma continued reading out the statement of the
victim’s father: “Please note that Cyracus was arrested in my house on April 6,
2009 and police practically emptied his house by removing all the electronics
in his room same day. They have not returned any of those items they seized
from his house.”
Lawyer
derides IGP comments, pick holes in story
Chief Ejimonye's further observations on the IGP’s comments
(through Counsel), “We were not
told how much ransom was paid by who and how? Where is the exhibit money? If
this information is true, then such money ought to have been registered as
exhibit and released with a bond.
The
threat in paragraph (IV) was for the release of their gang members at the time
and not the ransom. It is laughable to say that Kidnappers whose hide-out had
not been found could release their victim unharmed after their experience of
paragraph (iii) and when their demands were not met. Simple logic tells even the daft that such
Kidnappers at this stage can no longer trust anyone based on their experience
in paragraph (iii). Also note that Allwell is an elder brother to Chris and as
such the police in this report do not know that they are describing two persons
as one. So we were not told who among the two paid the money and this time to
who and where? The kidnapped victim is well above 70 years, so where was she
abandoned and how did she get home upon her release? Police did not link Cyracus’ involvement to any
confessional statement made by any of the two persons purportedly arrested at
the scene but through an informant whose source of information they did not
tell us. Paragraph (VI) clearly stated that Cyracus did not take part in the
Kidnap but gave the gang information about Chris Allwell (remember these are
two different men) who were not kidnapped. Please note that the parents of
Cyracus and Chris Brown live in the same plot of land but for a local road
called Ogba Ogologo that separates
them. i.e. Both families face each
other. How does an information given to who about Chris or Brown who are not
security men to the old woman lead to the Kidnap of the victim? How come the two persons arrested at the scene
did not take the police to their hide-out? How possible was it for Cyracus
whose offence, according to the police in their report, was giving information,
know the Kidnappers hide-out more than the two suspects already in police
custody? How many policemen went with him? How could he have attempted to
escape in the midst of all the armed police-men and in handcuffs and leg chain?
“The Doctor who examined and confirmed him dead no doubt must have
written a report. The report will show how many times and at what range he was shot.
We were not told whose bullet: was it
that of the remaining gang members, or was there an exchange of gun-fire? Who
else was hit by the stray bullet? Why weren’t Cyracus’ parents contacted or
informed of his death all this while?
From Police investigation, the ransom was paid on March 12, 2012 (what a
date?) and Cyracus was arrested on April 6, 2009. Police did not show any proof
of any part of the N200,000 share recovered from Cyracus either in cash or as
deposit in a bank account or anything he bought within the time to establish
their claim. The police
have told us about the existence of N15 million and Syracuse’s share of N200,
000. How was the balance of N14, 800, 000, 00 shared? Since Cyracus was picked from his father’s house,
why did the police not have the decency to inform his parents that he had been
shot dead so they could recover his dead body? And if Syracuse’s remains have been buried, who authorized the burial?”
Chief Ejimonye’s counsel
continued: “ Force Order 237 among other things, allows a police officer to use
his gun on a suspect if the offence committed by a suspect is such that could
lead to life imprisonment, death or more than 14yrs who intends to escape
justice. This rule says they should shoot to maim and not shoot to kill.
“There are three issues that concern us in this matter. First is to
invoke the diseases person’s fundamental rights. Second is to bring to book the
sponsors, the killers, and every person who have a hand, aided, abated, and
concealed any part of this information. Cyracus’ was deprived of his right to
an Attorney of his choice, see Sect 36
(C) of the 1999Constitution!”
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