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IIP-SARS Says Police Must Produce Officers Involved In The Disappearance Of Edward Leera

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5 years ago

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IG Muhammad Adamu

 

 

From Alhasan Bala, Abuja

 

The Independent Investigative Panel on allegations of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other units of the Nigerian Police force on Thursday told the Police to be serious in complying with its order of November 16, 2020, which directed them to produce three Police officers allegedly involved in the enforced disappearance of Edward Dumsiri Leera.

 

The victim’s brother, Confidence Leera had alleged that his brother was being held in Police custody since November 1, 2019.

 

The Chairman of the 11-man panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima (Rtd) who queried the Police at the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday said that the Commissioner of Police CP Legal should have been present to inform the panel about the whereabouts of the said officers as he promised earlier.

 

While making reference to the panel’s order of November 16, 2020, the former Supreme Court Judge remarked that the Police should be serious in complying with the said order.

 

Against the foregoing, the panel adjourned the case to December 1, 2020, for the Police to comply with the order of November 16, 2020, to produce the victim and the three other Police officers earlier listed.

#EndSARS: INSIDE PMB’S PARLEY WITH FORMER HEADS OF STATE

The affected officers includes SP Martin Samuel, DSP Essien Edet, and ASP David Ameh Agbo (IGP’s IRT “D” Division) Itam, Uyo).

 

Counsel to the Police, Godwin Ijeoma told the panel that Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Cosmas Anyanwu who is also the liaison officer attached to this panel has come to explain the various efforts being made by the Police to produce the affected persons before the panel.

 

Following this, the ACP Cosmas Anyanwu told the panel that the Commissioner of Police Legal, Emenemio Assayomo Tuesday,  has directed him to inform the panel about efforts being made by the Police to produce all affected police personnel in respect of their alleged involvement in this matter.

 

ACP Anyanwu who is also the in-charge of Civil Litigation at the Force headquarters further told the panel that Police authorities have sent signals to all Commands towards ensuring the availability of any concerned Police Officer before the panel.

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Similarly, he informed the panel that beginning from Monday next week, the Police will set up a mini-secretariat at the FCT High Court (the venue of the panel sitting) to enhance correspondences relating to service of petitions and proper documentation of the proceedings of the panel.

 

It would be recalled that on November 16, 2020, the elder brother of the victim, Confidence Leera who was led by his counsel, Giwa Victor had testified before the Panel about some of the ordeals of his missing brother in the hands of the affected Police officers.

 

According to the complainant, the victim was arrested, detained for no just cause, and his car confiscated and converted to personal use by IPO ASP David Ahmed Agbo.

 

In addition, he had alleged that ASP Agbo is now driving the car belonging to the victim, as well as allegedly making cash withdrawals from the victim’s bank account using his ATM between the period of November 2019 to October 2020.

 

He had also informed the panel that his family was asked to pay the sum of three million nairas (N3m) by the police before Edward will be released.

 

According to him, Edward Dumisara was not arraigned before any court of law in Nigeria and when the family got worried over his long incarceration, they instituted a suit for the enforcement of his fundamental rights in suit No. BHC/202/2019.

 

“Subsequently, on December 17, 2019, the honorable court-ordered hearing of the application of Edward Dumisara Leera and delivered judgment in his favor and ordered the immediate release of the said Edward. He added that the order was served on the Police but they refused to obey”, he stated.

 

He had equally lamented that instead of complying with the court judgment of December 2019, Edward Dimisara was charged to court on 7 count charge before Honourable Justice E.N. Ogbuji in suit No. PHC/287/CR/2020 but IRT has neither produced him in court nor released him in accordance with the earlier court order.

 

Against the foregoing, he told the panel that it seems the victim had been killed extra-judicially and disposed of.

 

In all the matters heard, the NHRC panel’s legal team led by Chino Obiagwu (SAN) was on hand to offer the necessary legal assistance to the panel even as they assisted Patience Ajibo and her daughter, Favour in presenting their case before the panel.

 

Meanwhile, the panel adjourned Mr. Samson Abudiore’s complaint of alleged abuse of powers, harassment, incessant arbitrary arrest, disobedience of court order by the personnel of the IGP monitoring unit in connivance with one Pastor Maxel Okauru to January 11, 2021, for continuation.

ENDSARS UNREST: My Perspective Views

Also adjourned to December 2, 2020, is the case of alleged unlawful arrest, detention, cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of Matthew and Patrick Ella against the Police.

 

In the same vein, the panel directed National Human Rights Commission to liaise with the FCT Police Command to address the demands of Mrs. Patience Ajibo whose daughter, Favour Ajibo was allegedly hit by a stray bullet.

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APC Kano appoints Bichi, Baffa Babba Dan Agundi to lead E-Registration drive across 44 LGAs

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13 hours ago

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January 21, 2026

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The APC in Kano State has appointed Baffa Babba Dan Agundi and Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi as the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the E-Registration Membership Committee.

Inaugurating the 14-member committee headed by Engineer Rabiu Sulaiman Bichi, the Kano State APC Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, said other members of the committee include Abdul Adamu Fagge and Musa Ali Kachako.

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The others are Shafi’u Abdullahi Darma, Ahmad Aruwa, Sanusi Sa’idu Kiru Majidadi, Khalid Ishaq Diso, Auwalu Ubale Minjibir, Fa’iz Alfindiki, Binta Rabi’u Spikin, Umar Muhd ​​Rabiu, Muhd ​​Tudun Wada Tweeter and Aminu Umar Dawakin Kudu as the Secretary.

Alhaji Abbas explained how the committee would function and urged the members of the committee to work hard to ensure the success of the project. He said the project would cover all the wards in the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.

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Turaki-Led PDP Leadership Visits Namadi Sambo in Push to Rebuild Party

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13 hours ago

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January 21, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, undertook a consultative visit to former Vice President Namadi Sambo at his Abuja residence on Tuesday. The move is part of broader efforts to reposition the party.

Following a closed-door meeting, Turaki informed journalists that the visit served to introduce the newly elected NWC members to Sambo and to brief him on the party’s current prospects and challenges in the wake of its recent National Convention in Ibadan.

He described the engagement as a critical step in restoring the PDP to its former stature as Africa’s largest political party and returning it to its “winning days.”

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Turaki noted that the former Vice President offered substantial advice and guidance on rebuilding the party into a formidable platform. He highlighted Sambo’s continued commitment as a particularly significant outcome of the meeting.

“The most important assurance from His Excellency is that he is, and will remain, a dedicated member of the PDP,” Turaki stated. “He has promised to become more active in party affairs and has assured us of his availability whenever his attention is required.”

“We are encouraged that the leaders instrumental in the PDP’s past successes are firmly behind us,” he added.

Expressing confidence in the party’s revival, Turaki said that with the support of its founding figures, the PDP is poised to succeed in forthcoming elections, including the FCT Area Council polls and the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States.

When questioned about the possibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan contesting on the party’s ticket, Turaki reaffirmed the party’s decision to zone its presidential candidacy to Southern Nigeria.

He clarified that while the specific candidate is yet to be determined, the selection process will be “open, transparent, fair, and equitable.”

“Should anyone express interest in contesting, we assure Nigerians that they will be the ultimate deciders of who becomes the candidate,” Turaki said.

 

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INEC Lifts Campaign Ban for Ekiti Governorship Election, Urges Peaceful Conduct

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14 hours ago

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January 21, 2026

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By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the official commencement of the campaign period for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.

The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, declared that the ban on public campaigns will be lifted on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The campaign window will remain open until midnight on June 18, 2026.

Dr. Omoseyindemi made the announcement on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti, attended by INEC officials and leaders of participating political parties. He called on all parties to engage in decorous and peaceful campaigns in the build-up to the election.

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“With the publication of the final list of candidates, the campaign period now enters a critical phase that demands maturity, restraint, and strict adherence to the law by all political actors,” he stated.

The REC emphasized that peaceful campaigns are fundamental to ensuring a credible election and the overall stability of the state. He reiterated INEC’s commitment to conducting a transparent and peaceful poll and urged parties to comply fully with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Campaigns.

This development follows the commission’s publication, barely 24 hours earlier, of the final list of governorship candidates and their running mates for the 12 parties cleared to contest the election.

It will be recalled that the Peoples Democratic Party and the Social Democratic Party, whose candidates were omitted from the list, have previously indicated they are seeking legal redress to participate in the election.

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