Maduako Igbokwe l Monday, December 8, 2020
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – The former Officer in charge of Special Anti Robbery Squad SARS Awkuzu, Anambra state Mr James Nwafor on Tuesday refused to appear before the Anambra Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality and extrajudicial killings and other matters.
He was supposed to appear before to answer questions on some allegations of extrajudicial killings, maiming and others carried out under his watch at SARS in Anambra State.
Chairman of the panel, Justice Veronica Umeh (rtd) had during the last sitting ruled that Mr James Nwafor would be invited to answer allegations leveled against him and some of his officers and men. At the panel venue many people had visited to physically see their alleged tormentor, James Nwafor but were disappointed when he failed to show up.
However,we gathered that his refusal to show up is connected to alleged plan by some aggrieved persons whose relatives were either killed or maimed under his watch to attack him.
Counsel to the five petitioners Mr Abdul Mammoud told the panel that he has closed his case before and he could not go further since those accused of extrajudicial killings and brutality have refused to honour the panel.He said the panel cannot forcefully bring the accused to the panel based on its terms of reference.