Whistleblower drags IGP Unit, IRT, ors to Panel over serial abductions, detentions, torture, faking of court docs

The Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations by the defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian police, on Wednesday, February 17, heard allegation of abuse of office brought by whistleblower, George Davidson against the IGP Monitoring Unit.

The complainant—Davidson, in a two-fold allegation dragged the following persons — ACP A.A. Ellenman, SP Onale Silas Egbeh, Inspectors Edison Ehurwun, Madaki Emmanuel Wisdom, Babanana Aliyu, Innocent Ujah, Musa Yohanna (all of IGP-Monitoring Unit) and Monday Opanda IGP-IRT, Ms. Regina Dominic Nkpa Ebiabe and Patience Yakubu before the Panel.

Davidson alleged serial unlawful abductions, detentions, torture and falsifications of court documents, namely, warrants of detentions.

Two officers, ACP A.A. Ellenman of the IGP Monitoring Unit, FHQ, Abuja, and Insp. Wisdom Madaki of the Legal Department, FHQ, Abuja, were on dock on Wednesday.

The second respondents chose to represent itself, so Counsel to Police represented only the first respondents.

During the hearing, new documents emerged that needed to be properly served and admitted.

Also, two other respondents who were supposed to be joined to this case at the last adjournment have not been served.

Counsel to NHRC, therefore, requested an adjournment to enable him serve the two other respondents appropriately.

In his statement of facts presented before the Panel, sworn to at the Registry of the Federal High Court Territory, Abuja, the Deponent, Dr George Davidson in a matter of application between himself and others stated as follows:

1. I am the applicant in these petitions and by virtue of these facts, I am quite conversant with the facts of these cases.
2. That at about 10:00AM of October, 2019 I was abducted when I was alone in my house, my children and wife having gone to school and work respectively
3. That the men who came to abduct me were not wearing any uniform, they scaled the fence of my house without a knock at my gate, and they fired gunshots sporadically into the air
4. That the 6th Respondents being the team lead of the over seven armed men instructed to abduct me, directed some gunshots at me with liquid substance am not familiar with in the first case
5. That I was manhandled even though I was not resisting the abduction
6. That I it took intervention of some military officers who were on guard duty at a nearby house, the soldiers inquired who the men were and they identified themselves as officers and men of the Nigerian Police Force, being the operatives of the IGP-IRT
7. That they had neither a search warrant nor an arrest warrant yet they ransacked my house and illegally confiscated my properties.
8. That the properties illegally confiscated are hereunder listed;
9. International passport issued by Federal Government of Nigeria
10. 2 Infinix Note 6 cell phone valued at N55,000.00 each

iii.     Sony Digital Camera valued at $1,500 (USD)

1. Sony Security pens (two pieces) valued at $250 (USD) each
2. GT Bank ATM card issue by GT Bank
3. Sum of $5,000,000 (USD) Cash

vii.    Official identity Card, Issued to me by the Save the Soul Transparency and Eagle International Foundation (STEIEF)

viii.   My daughters packets shirts (three pieces) valued at N25,000.00 each

1. HP Pavailion Computer laptop valued at N270, 000:00
2. That they left all the doors and gate to my house wide opened even though, they knew very well that no one was in in the house at the time, all pleas by me to at least close the doors were in vain
3. That they carted me away from my house wearing only short a shot and no shirt, with handcuff and leg cuff with chains, giving the impression that I was a notorious criminal.
4. That the team informed me they were acting on the instructions of 1st and 2nd Respondents who are in the IGP- Mentoring Unit office and Office of the Chief Security Officer to the IGP’S Office all located on the 7th floor and 1st floor of the Force Headquarters, Louise Edet House, Abuja.
5. That I was detained by the 1st and 2nd Respondents from 3rd 0ctober, 2019 – 28th October 2019 in SARS Detention facility.
6. That nothing was said to me by anyone as the reason for my abduction and incarceration nor was I asked by anyone to make any statement.
7. That since my abduction and incarceration on the 3rd October,2019, till 28th October 2019, nothing was said to me by anyone as to my fate.
8. That it was after two weeks of my incarceration when my wife and legal team were able to locate me at the SARS detention facility after visiting several police stations, Hospitals and Mortuaries in search of my whereabouts.
9. That since after my abduction and incarceration from 3rd October 2019 -28th October, 2019, I was not charged to any court of law .
10. That no Investigation Police Officer (IPO) was assigned to my case.
11. That my family and business suffered untold hardship as a result of my incarceration.
12. That my captors left me in a very dreadful place where the conditions of life are worse than that of cattle before taken to slaughter arena.
13. That hardly a day passed that inmates are taken out for slaughter extra-judicially by men of IGP-IRT.
14. That I witness over 15 extra-judicial killings, over 10 inmates died of starvations, 3 committed suicide in my presence.
15. That my health and self -esteem was significantly diminished seeing how my fellow detainee died, almost every other day, from gunshots by police and horrible conditions the had endure.
16. That I was denied access to food and any kind of medication despite my failing health condition.
17. That during the periods of my incarceration, I know not less than twenty-five (25) persons whom died in the cell rooms either through extra-judicial execution by the police or starvation.
18. That the cell space is about 15by 40 feet, yet crowded with not less than 200 of us per cell and some of us dripping in their own pool of blood as a result of gun shot.
19. That I and others in the cell were being repeatedly tortured, starved and denied any form of access to anyone or any food.
20. That I was taken to Keffi Correctional Centre on the 28th October, 2019 about 3:00pm on the authority of a Bench warrant issued by Senior Magistrate Court 5, Wuse Zone 2.
21. That the circumstance in paragraph 27above was occasioned on the strength a Charge profiled against me the IGP Monitoring Unit, the charge came up on the 21st October, 2019 for Continuation of Hearing and as I was appearing in person in the case, no one was available to explain these facts to the court.
22. That the 1st and 2nd Respondents deliberately hid me in their cell and went to the above court to misled the court to ensure my incarceration and give it a semblance of legality.
23. That I had earlier been granted bail in the charge upon realizing that the Bench warrant was issued in error, I instructed my lawyers to file for vacation of the warrant and the court found in my favor and granted the application.
24. That I was released from the Keffi Medium Prison on the 20th November, 2019.
25. That on the 22nd January 2020, I was abducted again in front on FCT High court Gwagwalada at about 7:00AM by 4 unknown men.
26. That my handsets, Infix hand cell phone valued at N70, 000:00 was confiscated by one Inspector Musa
27. That I was taken to the office of the 1st and 2nd Respondents in handcuffs and leg chains
28. That I was detained from 22nd January 2020-26th March, 2020.
29. That my family members never knew my whereabouts for 3weeks.
30. That I was never told the reason for abduction nor allowed access to food , communication to my family or lawyers.
31. That the 2nd respondents told me since I am bent on revealing on MS Regina Dominic, I wont make it out this time
32. That I took ill in the detention facility of SARS around February 2020
33. That due to COVID-19 the IGP Mohamed Adamu gave instructions that all non-capital alleged offences be granted bail, but 1-5th Respondents refused to adhere to the instruction
34. That I became critically ill on the 26th March 2020 the SARS officers were afraid to come near me due to COVID-19 and called the 1st and 2nd respondents.
35. That at about 7:00AM of 26th March, 2020, the 3rd Respondent in the company of over 5 policemen came rolled me into a waiting truck, informed the SARS officers on duty they were taking me a hospital, I found myself in Zuba Upper Court in Handcuff and FIR was read to me that I defamed on MS  Regina Dominic and that Impersonated.
36. That the court sat against the CJN directives due to pressure from the 1st-5th respondents.
37. That the 1st – 3rd Respondents forged court documents from a magistrate court in Nasarawa State to keep me in police custody in Abuja for 2months+
38. That I was traumatized and tortured when I witnessed the open extra judicial killings of Nigerians by IGP-IRT agents on the 28th February,2020
39. That I was granted bail on the 8th April, 2020 by the Zuba  Upper Area court against the wishes of the 1st- 6th Respondents.
40. That I was still abducted and taken to Suleja Correctional Facility on the 25th November, 2020 on the instruction of ACP A.A. Ellenman, Onale Silas and Innocent Ujah all of IGP-Monitoring Unit.
41. That I was let go from Suleja Correctional facility on the authority realization that I was detained in error on the 8th December 2020
42. That is in the interest of Justice to grant my application of ensuring all my personal belongings are returned to me in good and perfect forms.
43. That the erring officers be made to face the wrath of the law of the land
44. That I should be adequately compensated for the atrocities of these NPF agents.
45. That the 1st respondent shields, protects and patronizes suspected criminals’ elements for selfish interest against the wishes of Nigerians.
46. That instant cases are that of ACP A.A. Elleman protecting an alleged EFCC Impostor standing trial, Patience Yakubu, and Regina Dominic a Civil servant, Grade Level 09, with Properties worth over N800 Million, a Director in a Private Company (OPULAFA Nig LTD), yet ACP A.A. Ellerman shields them.
47. That the 2nd respondent called me severally to see how I could forgo the case of Regina Dominic for the benefits of my existence in life as he is under serious pressure to arrest me even though I have the facts.
48. That the second respondents confiscated my handsets in order to suppress, conceal my conversations where he appealed to me to collect cash and pardon Ms Regina Dominic which our call logs will reveal. [END]

This case was adjourned to the 17th of March, 2021, for further hearing.