At least 18 different civil society organisations have petitioned the National Human Rights Commission, Abuja, demanding an Investigation into the Death of Abdulqadri Olatunji Jimoh and Related Human Rights Violations.
According to the group, the 35-year-old Jimoh allegedly died in custody due to police brutality inflicted by officers of the Kwara State Police Command.
The group also said that the deceased’s family has accused the police of not only failing to provide a legitimate autopsy report but also of obstructing justice and attempting to cover up the circumstances surrounding his death.
The group said: “Reports indicate that the Kwara State Police Command supposedly issued a “fake autopsy result” to the media while denying the family access to the official autopsy document.
“This raises serious concerns about the integrity of the police investigation and underscores the need for an independent and impartial inquiry. The family has alleged that the police are deliberately shielding the officers responsible for Mr Jimoh’s death and actively trying to frustrate their quest for justice.
“We also draw parallels to the troubling case of whistle-blower Nnamdi Emeh, who exposed egregious human rights abuses and organ trafficking within the Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Despite being granted bail for months, he remains incarcerated, with accusations of police corruption and attempts to silence dissent. This ongoing persecution showcases a systemic issue within the Nigerian police regarding accountability and human rights protection.”
The group stressed that given this disturbing context, we urge the National Human Rights Commission to conduct a prompt, impartial, and exhaustive investigation into these serious allegations against the Kwara State Police Command and the circumstances surrounding the death of Abdulqadri Olatunji Jimoh.
The group specifically called for a thorough investigation into the claims made by Mr Jimoh’s family regarding the alleged torture and subsequent death of their son while in police custody, verification and publication of the authentic autopsy report to ensure transparency and accountability, holding accountable any police officers found to be complicit in these acts of violence and obstruction of justice and recommend appropriate reforms within the police force to prevent the recurrence of such human rights violations in the future, particularly focusing on accountability and rehabilitation of the victims’ families.
“We believe that only an independent investigation will unveil the truth and restore faith in the justice system, which will ultimately contribute to the safety and protection of all citizens. We respectfully request a timely response to this petition, as the gravity of these allegations demands immediate attention,” said the group.
The organisations are; Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Lagos, Rights Enforcement and Public Law CentreI, Centre for Citizens Rights, Centre for Family Rescue, Law and Development, Comrade Nelson Nnanna, Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development FENRAD Nigeria Abia State, Grassroots Development Monitoring and Advocacy Centre (GDMAC), Ilorin, Peggy Chukwuemeka, Parent-Child Intervention Centre (PCIC) Enugu State, Criminal Justice Network of Nigeria, Legal Resources Consortium Lagos, Justice for Peace and Development Initiative Lagos, Z.O. Senbanjo, Esq. Executive Director, Confluence of Rights, Nigeria, Building Bridges for Justice and Development Foundation, Abuja, Vision Spring Initiatives, Sam Akpologun, Open Society on Justice Reform Project, Research, Innovation, and Advocacy in Development (IRIAD), Solidarity for the paradigm shift initiative, Human Rights Social Development and Environmental Foundation (HURSDEF) Rivers State and Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption (MIIVOC).
