'I was going to die there': Lagos panel begins hearing police brutality claims

By Libby George
LAGOS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - A judicial panel investigating
claims of police brutality and the shooting of protesters began
hearing complaints in Lagos on Tuesday in a nation on edge
following Nigeria's biggest upheaval in 20 years.
Independent investigations were a core demand of protesters
who successfully demanded the end of a widely feared police
branch called the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The demonstrations turned violent on Oct. 20 when witnesses
said the military opened fire on peaceful protesters. The army
said it was not there.
Authorities said at least 13 states have established
judicial panels.
The Lagos panel has yet to receive complaints from the
shooting. Chair Justice Doris Okuwobi said it would fully
investigate it but declined to say when.
On Tuesday, Okoliagu Abudike, a father of five, sought
justice for what he said was a 47-day detention in 2012 at the
hands of SARS officers that came after his boss accused him of
theft.
He said he bled profusely and lost two teeth as officers
beat and tortured him, demanding he confess, and later took his
car, generator and the deed to his house.
"My boss then told me that I was going to die there," he
said.
Despite a 2016 court ruling awarding him 10 million naira
(more than $26,000), he said SARS paid nothing and did not
discipline the officers.
After about 30 minutes of testimony and questions, the
eight-member panel said it would rule on Abudike's case within
7-10 days. The day's other cases were postponed. The panel will
sit for six months.
The panel includes two youth representatives who were part
of the protests, but both declined to speak with media following
the hearings.
Tensions remain high across Nigeria, with sporadic shooting
in parts of Lagos and looting nationwide, particularly of
warehouses holding food meant to assuage the impact of COVID-19
on the poor.
($1 = 380 naira)