Ondo Lawyer Drags NSCDC To Court Over Suspect’s Death In Custody

An Akure based human rights lawyer and activist, Morakinyo Ogele has taken the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to court over the death of a suspect, Razak Ahmed, in the custody of the Ondo State Command of the Corps.

Ahmed was arrested last month by officers of the state command for allegedly having carnal knowledge of his eighth-year-old daughter.

He reportedly died in the custody of the command in Akure, the state capital, three days after his arrest.

Family of the deceased alleged that he was tortured to death by officers of the command while trying to extract confessional statements from him.

However, the command’s spokesperson, Samuel Oladapo denied the family’s allegation, saying the suspect committed suicide in their custody.

Not satisfied with the command’s explanation, Ogele approached the State High Court in Akure to seek justice for the deceased and his family.

The human rights lawyer is seeking the Court’s order directing NSCDC to conduct investigation in its Ondo State Command to identify officers involved in the arrest, detention and alleged torturing of the deceased.

He is also seeking an order directing the Corps to hand over the officers to the police for proper investigation and prosecution of the culprits.

Ogele is further asking the court to order NSCDC to pay a sum of N500 million as damages to the family of Ahmed.

Besides, the legal practitioner wants the court to direct the security agency to subject all its officers to psychiatric test and stop them from torturing their suspects in order to obtain confessional statements.

In a 33-paragraph-affidavit, Ogele said he initiated the suit on behalf of the family of the deceased and in the public interest.

“The family members of the deceased have been calling on human rights organizations to help them get justice.

“This is because NSCDC is trying to cover up this extra judicial killing. They felt unconcerned about the gruesome act against the family of the deceased.

“Their spokesman declared that the man committed suicide in their custody without giving evidence. I think NSCDC is a security agency established to protect lives and properties in Nigeria. Its officers are not expected to take any life,” Ogele said.