By Our Correspondent in Minna
A Minna-based journalist cum publisher, Malam Yahaya Usman,is claiming N50 million as damages for mental and psychological trauma he suffered while in the hands of the Nigeria Police Force in Minna, Niger state.
The publisher is also claiming N10 million endorsement and as well, the N200, 000 daily from 24th -28th July and for the 14 days he was in self isolation.
He made the claims in Minna when he testified before the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to look into alleged police brutality on members of the public in the state.
He told the panel that he was arrested and detained in the same cell with some suspected kidnapers, adding that the cell was not only small but overcrowded and un-conducive for human habitation.
“You can only enter the cell with the side because the door is not wide enough to allow for people to enter directly without having some part of your body scratched to the wall. It is just about two feet wide,” he narrated.
Usman, who is also the publisher of ‘Niger Watch Magazine’ in his further description of the Correctional Facility, said the cell in the facility was just about 6 feet underground with only a pit latrine serving virtually all the occupants.
Usman said he was invited by the police on trumped up charges by an official of an Niger state government when he was on his way to finalize a N10 million endorsement deal in Abuja, a deal he claimed he eventually lost because he was detained by the police.
He said: “When I reported to the CID unit, Nigeria Police on the 24th of July, 2020, I was again detained in a cell by officers of the unit led by one ASP Abraham Zagi and three others under the instruction of DC Abdullahi Tahir.
“Unfortunately and surprising though, I was detained along with some kidnap suspects in a decked room without window or lighting, with the pit toilet at the centre of the room and no space to lie down.
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“I was forced to remain in a squatting position until I was granted bail the following morning. At times, they will bring you a bucket to pass excreta into when the only pit latrine is in use. The condition i found himself was not only inhuman but fit for only animals.
“My Lords the place is not fit for human habitation, I have to go into self isolation after being released.”
However, the Police Command, represented by its Head of Legal unit, SP Jude Akaeze, denied the claims levelled against the police by Usman.
Akaeze, who insisted that the petitioner was not detained in a cell but in an office where statements of suspects were usually taken, further explained that contrary to Usman’s claims,‘the Cells in Niger State Police Command are in good condition’.
On the request of the Counsel to the petitioner, Alhaji Tanko Beji, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Ishyaku Usman said the 14-man panel would visit the Police Command to verify the claims of the petitioner.
Our state correspondent reports that not less than 14 petitions have been received by the Judicial
Commission of Inquiry.
