Uproar as police detain 43-year-old Benue man for three years without bail, trial

An Abuja based legal practitioner, Barrister NAPOLEON OTACHE has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, The PRESIDENCY, The National Assembly and other numerous agencies over the indefinite detention of a 43 years old BENUE man, Bernard Ogbu.

Our findings revealed that Mr Bernard Ogbu hails from IGUMALE COMMUNITY in Ado Local Government Area of BENUE State.

Mr Bernard Ogbu has been languishing in the custody of the policemen of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, for over three years without trial or bail.

Barrister NAPOLEON OTACHE narrated that the operatives of the defunct SARS led by one ASP Felix Onoja, stormed Bernard Ogbu’s residence in the New Nyanya area of Nasarawa State on March 3, 2019, and arrested him and he has been in police detention till date.

Thereafter, the policemen reportedly took Ogbu to the SARS detention facility in Abuja where his family members visited the following day to inquire the reason for his arrest.

Bernard Ogbu’s younger sister, Mrs Comfort Ogbu, was reported to have said that while she was speaking to her 43-year-old brother at the SARS’ detention facility, the detainee cried over the alleged torture meted on him by the SARS operatives.

The aggrieved sister also said Bernard Ogbu appealed to her to mobilize all the family members to do everything possible to secure his release, adding that her brother’s wife died in the struggle to secure his release from custody.

In the petition dated 25th August, 2022 written by Barrister NAPOLEON OTACHE, It was stated that “In the midnight of March 3, 2019, the operatives of the defunct SARS led by ASP Felix Onoja, broke into the Bernard Ogbu’s house at New Nyanya, Nasarawa State, and arrested him.

“His plasma television set, home theatre electronics, set of chairs, boxes, clothes, Opel Astra car and other personal property were also taken away by the policemen.

The petition further stated that “The following day, Bernard Ogbu’s sister visited the detention facility of the defunct SARS and she was referred to meet with ASP FELIX Onoja at the abattoir, Guzape, SARS’ detention centre, Abuja.

“she was only able to exchange greetings with her brother through the keyhole of the detention cell. Bernard Ogbu cried out and pleaded with his sister to look for money to secure his release because he was going through unbearable torture in detention.”

In the petition, Barrister NAPOLEON OTACHE quoted Comfort Ogbu when she asked ASP FELIX Onoja the reason for Bernard’s arrest, all he could say was that Bernard committed an offence and demanded N5m from her to secure his release.

She said, “We have not been allowed to see him since March 4, 2019. Whenever we visited the SARS’ detention facility to ask for him, the policemen usually chased us away.

“When the SARS was disbanded due to the nationwide protest, we made several attempts to see my brother but to no avail. His wife died last year of depression caused by Bernard Ogbu’s continued detention. She left four young children behind.”

Barrister NAPOLEON OTACHE stated that Bernard’s sister and other family members are greatly worried over the long police detention of Bernard Ogbu as they may not know whether the detainee is in good health condition.

The victim’s family lawyer, Barrister Napoleon Otache, said the police detained Bernard Ogbu without disclosing any criminal allegation against him, adding that efforts to make ASP FELIX Onoja admit the detainee to bail or charge him to court proved abortive.

Barrister Napoleon Otache said, “My client (referring to Mrs Comfort Ogbu) and her family members have made repeated attempts…