The Rivers Civil Society Organizations has said it has asked its lawyers to approach a court of law for an order which would compel the Police Service Commission and Inspector General of Police to investigate and prosecute the Commander of Eagle Crack team, Supol Benson Adetuyi, and another officer, Inspector Sam Amadi, for roles they allegedly played over the death of Chima Ikwunado and bodily harm of four other Ikokwu mechanics.
Speaking at a press conference, the Chairman of the Rivers Civil Society Organizations (RIVCSO), Comrade Enefaa Gergewill, said that they would also not withdraw from court the current prosecution of four of the officers allegedly involved in the death of the mechanic and alleged torture of others.
Gergewill said: “Rivers Civil Society Organization consulted with the victims and resolved that we will not withdraw the matter in court but we will rather exhaust all legal options. RIVCSO have instructed our lawyers to approach the court for an order to compel the Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police to investigate and prosecute Supol Benson Adetuyi and Inspector Sam Amadi for the roles they played in the death of Mr Chima Ikwunado and bodily harm of the four other auto mechanics”.
The chairman of the civil society organizations said they petitioned the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions asking that the two officers be investigated and prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the crime.
Currently, four officers of the Eagle Crack Squad are facing prosecution for their alleged involvement in the death of Ikwunado and torturing of four others.
Sergeant Rose Georgewill, Ayogu Fidelis, Eke Chibuzor and Egbunafu Felix are facing trial on a five-count charge of alleged murder and intent to maim. They were previously dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force before the trial.
Georgewill said the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions had asked that the matter be withdrawn from court so that they could continue with the case but insisted that they would not withdraw the case.
Also speaking, elder brother of the deceased, Anthony Ikwunado, repeated that the House had asked them to withdraw the case but said they would not, adding that the family was unhappy over the death of his younger brother.
He also thanked the media for its role in the matter.
For his part, one of the victims, Ifeanyi Onyekwere, said that the court would decide in the case saying that those who committed crime should face the law.
He also said that the issue should not be trivialized saying that the police asked them to get the body of the late mechanic.
He also asked for an intervention by the state.
The five Ikokwu mechanics Ifeanyi Onyekwere, Osaze Friday, Chima Ikwunado, Victor Ogbonna and Ifeanyi Osuji were arrested in December 2019 by officers attached to the Eagle Crack team and one of the mechanics, Ikwunado, allegedly died in police custody.
