…As Ikokwu Motor Spare Parts Dealers Kick
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has ordered the police to give a copy of the autopsy report on late Chima Ikwunado to the lawyer of the family (Chinyere Lawrence) for their own good.
The autopsy report we learnt was submitted to the police more than a week ago but refused to extend a copy to the family.
Justice J. K. Omotosho gave the advice when the lawyer to the family reported to the court that the police were yet to give her the report days after it was released by the pathologists.
Justice Omotosho said that failure by the police to comply with the directive will be seen as if the police is hiding something.
The matter was adjourned to Tuesday March 10, 2020 for further hearing.
Meanwhile, the Ikokwu Spare Parts dealers said they are disappointed over the continued silence of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on the alleged torture to death of late Chima in the Police custody.
The Chairman of Ikokwu Spare Parts Union, High Chief Anthony Alaribeole told newsmen outside the court room that the continued silence of the IGP and the governor shows that people from the Southern part of the country are being marginalized unlike a similar situation in Shagamu, Ogun State which was swiftly handled despite the fact that it was an accident.
“The IGP gave a matching order that was swiftly carried out with the urgency it deserved or does it mean mechanics do not have right to their lives or is it a matter of different laws for different people” he queried.
Chief Alaribeole made it clear that the union is prepared to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
Also speaking with newsmen, the father of the late mechanic, Elder Kelvin Ikwunado, said he is handicapped and devastated as it is now.
On what he expects from the matter, Elder Ikwunado said though nothing can be done to bring back his son to life, “the family, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Civil Liberty Organizations and other interested parties should be consulted for possible solution”.
On his own the septuagenarian said he would want the relevant laws of the country in this situation to be maximally applied to serve as deterrent to others.
