Abuja #EndSARS panel summons hospital, MDCN registrar over corpers death

The petitioner had alleged that Garki Hospital refused to treat the victim after being shot by a police inspector, a day before her passing out.

News Agency of Nigeria • February 15, 2021

A National Human Rights Commission panel on Monday, ordered that fresh hearing notices be served on the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Garki Hospital and the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

The NHRC independent panel is investigating alleged Human Rights Violations by the defunct SARS and other units of the police.

The respondents were joined as parties in the petition filed by the victim’s sister, Chinenye Igwetu, on the alleged extra judicial killing of Linda.

The chairman of the panel, Suleiman Galadima, gave the order following an application by counsel for the panel, Halilu Adamu, who held the brief for Chino Obiagwu, SAN.

Justice Galadima also ordered that the police counsel produce documents showing where Inspector Benjamin Peters was tried by the police in-house-trial panel for professional misconduct.

He adjourned the matter until March 1, for continuation of hearing.

Earlier, Barrister Obiagwu told the panel that he was unable to serve hearing notices on the CMD, Garki Hospital and Registrar, MDCN.

Also, counsel for the police, DCP James Idachaba, told the panel that Mr. Peters was no longer a serving member of the Nigerian Police.

Mr. Idachaba told the panel that Mr. Peters had been dismissed over the shooting of the corps member.

”He is in a correctional centre because the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has filed a case of culpable homicide against him in an FCT high court,” he said.

NAN reports that the victim who was a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was allegedly shot by Inspector Peters.

Also listed as respondents are the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police.

The petitioner had on November 5 told the panel that Mr. Peters shot her younger sister on July 3, 2018 in Abuja, a day before her passing out.

She alleged that when the deceased was taken to the Garki General Hospital after being shot and that the hospital refused to treat her, in spite of the fact that she lost a lot of blood.

”The hospital insisted that she should get a male blood donor, though I was ready to donate blood to my sister,” she said.