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| Reverend David Ugolor |
issues. Excerpts.
Why have you taken it upon yourself to fight for justice for the people?
It is because the rate of extra-judicial killing in Edo State has increased and the level of impunity on the side of the police has also increased. Another thing is my experience when my friend was murdered. Now, it is almost impossible to get justice in Nigeria. In my case, after the court had discharged and acquitted me and awarded me a cost, the police, in their usual tradition of not owning up to wrongdoing, still insisted on proceeding with the case.
You can imagine a poor tax payer in Nigeria fighting the police, an institution with huge resources and a budget. They can afford to delay the wheel of justice. A High Court awarded me the cost of N5 million for my illegal detention but the police still took the case to the Appeal Court. The Appeal Court ruled unanimously that they should deposit the N5 million but they have gone to the Supreme Court now. I am only giving you this background to tell how expensive it is to secure justice in Nigeria today.You can imagine if it were to be a poor Nigerian who has no means of support. I can say that about 60 to 70 per cent of Nigerians, if they were in that condition I found myself, would not be able to demand justice, not to talk of getting it. So, it is only a few Nigerians that can actually secure justice.
Who are these?
They are Nigerians such as the rich politicians and civil servants who can pursue justice because they can contract the services of Senior Advocates of Nigeria or 20 lawyers to pursue justice. This is not good for Nigeria. This is what is encouraging impunity. It is also the reason the police can afford to trample on the rights of common citizens and go scot free.
So, what is the latest on the murder case of late Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde now?
More than three months after we went to the National Assembly over this matter, no report has been issued. However, when Governor Amaechi and the Presidency had problems over grounding of his plane, the National Assembly came out with a report on the public hearing in less than three weeks. So, I am only telling you how difficult it is to secure justice in Nigeria. And that is why many people are resorting to the jungle (self help) as a way of securing justice. You must remember that what happened to the Boko Haram leader, Mohammed Yusuf, was extra-judicial killing. If you remember, soldiers arrested him and handed him over to the police. What did the police do to him? They killed him all in an attempt to cover up the truth. In a society where you cover truth, there would never be peace. Now, you can see what Boko Haram has caused Nigeria.
And coming from that experience, I feel compelled to continue to fight for justice because I believe justice is a common good for the society, both the rich and the poor. For instance, the rich and the poor are victims of the insecurity we are experiencing today in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, the rich are not able to move and enjoy their wealth in a relaxed manner.
Is that why you have taken it upon yourself that justice must be served in the alleged murder of Ibrahim Momodu by the police?
The issue of Momodu is a very critical one. Today, it is Ibrahim Momodu, yesterday it was David Ugolor, tomorrow it could be anybody. On the killing of Momodu, there are issues we are raising. We are raising issues of justice and human rights. These issues are not only for people who are victims of extra judicial killing; it is also for the police. Momodu’s mother is a poor civil servant with a poor salary. How can she secure the services of lawyers to pursue the case? The lawyer who is presently pursuing the case is doing it voluntarily. The police, in their conflicting reports, said Momodu was a robber and all sort of things. What we are saying is that even if he was a robber, there are due processes that must be followed. I mean we have the rule of law. There is a way you have to follow in bringing people to justice.
So, what other things are you doing to ensure that poor people secure justice?
We were encouraged when Governor Adams Oshiomhole told Edo people last year that he would set up a Public Defendant Unit in the state, so that poor people who do not always have access to hire a lawyer to pursue their cases can resort to those means to secure the services of a lawyer. Unfortunately, this has not been put in place.We were happy and encouraged when Governor Oshiomhole, in his commitment to the values of human rights and the fundamental principles of justice, assured us that he would set up a panel of inquiry. While that message was received worldwide with much acclamation by civil societies both in Nigeria and abroad, the decision was reversed. What happened was that the police discretely decided to send uncompleted investigation report to the DPP in their usual tradition.
I say clearly that this is unacceptable because government has the responsibility to defend the rights of the poor. The Momodu family are poor and don’t have the capacity to engage lawyers in this long journey. The civil society in Edo and Nigeria as a whole are committed to ensure that Governor Oshiomhole toes the line of justice to ensure that a panel of enquiry is established to provide the opportunity for people who live in the environment where this boy was killed to come and testify. And it is not going to focus on the boy alone. There have been massive extra-judicial killings in the state. As a matter of fact, we got to know that every week, at least two bodies were being taken to the cemetery where Momodu was buried. Up till now, the autopsy report has not come out.
What does it take to do an autopsy and what is your opinion on the police autopsy report on Oyerinde as published in some newspapers?
You know the police sent their case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) without an autopsy report. They sent their memorandum brief to the House of Representatives without any autopsy report. What kind of investigation was that? It is only the autopsy report that would tell you the kind of gun that was used. The police know what they are doing. That is why we are saying that the impunity in the Nigeria Police is a threat to democracy. That is why we are asking for an investigation. The Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Council and all progressive unions have asked the president to intervene, but nothing has happened so far.
Source: Tribune
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