Human Rights Abuse: Lawyers Present Petition on Extrajudicial Killing of Sulaiman Umar Dahiru Before Judicial Panel of Enquiry.
By Murtala Muhammad
In continuation of its sitting the State Judicial Panel of Enquiry constituted by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State to investigate human rights abuse by the Nigeria Police as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari has received a petition filed by a team of lawyers on behalf of the family of Sulaiman Umaru Dahiru who was allegedly killed by the Nigeria Police Force.
A Human Rights lawyer, Barrister Hassan Saraki who led other lawyers in presenting the petition alleged that the police extra-judicially killed Sulaiman in his car on the seventh of September 2012, in Bauchi metropolis.
“Our petition is in respect of the horrendous killing of one Sulaiman Umaru Dahiru who was killed on 7th September 2012 by the men Of Nigeria Police” Saraki said.
Barrister Saraki explained that the victim who was a staff of Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, was stopped by the police and introduced himself only to be shot by the armed policemen.
He said Sulaiman was an innocent and productive young man whose life was cut short by men of the Nigeria police force and since his death the family has been crying for justice and nothing was done over the matter, adding that all they want from the committee was justice.
“We want the perpetrators of this inhuman act to be investigated and punished to serve as deterrent to others” he added.
Speaking to newsmen on behalf of the victim’s family Umar Musa expressed optimism that the committee would do justice to their petition and commended the team of lawyers for developing interest in the matter.
“We’re optimistic that the panel will do justice to the issues presented before it, I also commend the zeal of the young lawyers for developing keen interest over the matter” he said.
In a counter, Counsel to the Nigeria Police Force, Barrister Bala Yunusa faulted the petition, saying that it lacked substance.
The sitting has been adjourned to nineteenth of January 2021 for hearing.
