From Isaac Kertyo Makurdi
A victim of Police brutality, Pastor David Pev has demanded the payment of N4.1 million compensation over the injures he sustained when he was attacked by some Policemen in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
A 25 year old Pastor made the demand before an eighth -man Judicial Panel of Inquiry on alleged Police brutality, Extra-judicial killings and Human rights violation, sitting in Makurdi.
The Clergy who submitted theposition through his counsel, Emmanuel Kasar, recalled that at about 7:30pm of July 28, 2019 while returning from his commercial motorcycle business, popularly known as okada business with his brand new motorcycle with registration number MKD 46 Qm, he was attacked by the from ‘B’ Division at High level roundabout in Makurdi and hit him with a stick in an attempt to stop him.
He told the panel that he fell on tarred road in his pool of blood from severe injuries he sustained, stressing that he became unconscious as his motorcycle got damaged. Under cross-examination by counsel to the Police, F.N Agwu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP),Pev tendered pictures, photo copies of legal free receipt and a letter from Immaculate Hospital, Makurdi with card number 43771, where he was admitted for treatment as evidence.
The Cleric asked the panel to look into his case, averring that he lost his source of income as a result of this. However, counsel to the Police, Agwu opposed the demand explaining that the pictures the petitioner tendered were photo-shopped, adding that in law of evidence, photo copies of documents cannot be tendered before a panel. He urged the panel to reject the the documents. The case has been adjourned to another date for continuation. Meanwhile, the panel has received several other petitions relating to Police brutality, Human rights abuses among others.
