The Anambra State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Extra-Judicial Killings and other Related Matters has granted one of the victims/petitioners at the ongoing sitting, Chief Bonaventure Mokwe two weeks to present graphic information on how former of the state Peter Obi was influnced to demolished his Upper Class hotel in Onitsha and how SARS kill and maim Nigerian at Awkuzu SARS with impunity.
The chairman of the panel, Justice Veronica Umeh said that it may invite Ex governor Peter Obi,the police or anyone indicted by petitioners to appear before the panel and also give tetestimonie
Chief Bonaventure Mokwe, owner of Upper Class Hotel in Onitsha which was demolished in 2003 by the Anambra State government, the owner arrested and tortured by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad,
over involvement in kidnapping activities had filled a five-page petition to the panel and also demanding for public apology from the state government for being branded a kidnaper and his hotel demolished, while he was kept in SARS custody for threemonths without any charge against him.
Mokwe while testifying to the panel said he stayed for three months in SARS custody and later became an insider, and also witnessed most of the gruesome killings perpetuated by the police unit, and was ready to open up on their operations.
“Since we are talking about SARS and all their atrocities, I think this panel can give me the opportunity to say most of the things I saw, which happened at SARS, just to help us unravel the level of destruction they were into.
“I stayed there long enough to know the workings of SARS and also where they derived their powers to act the way they did, especially SARS under James Nwafor.he said.
Chairman of the panel while addressing Mokwe stated that the panel had terms of reference, and that asking the state to apologize to victim was not part of them.
She however asked the petitioner to file additional petition covering other testimonies he intends to give about SARS operations, while assuring that anyone who was indicted in a petition would be invited.
“We cannot entertain testimonies that are outside what you filed in your petition. If you want to file an addendum, we will give you time. Be rest assured that all the people you are mentioning would be duly invited by this panel,” Justice Umeh said.
