By Taofeek Surdiq
A member of Nigeria Police Force, Ereola Akintioye, has written a petition to the Police Service Commission (PSC) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Kayode Egbetokun, over his unlawful dismissal from the force.
The petition dated 4th of March, 2024, written through a Human Rights Activist, Comrade Bolawa Akindolie, copied to Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Zone 7, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Police Command, Chief Justice of the Federation, The Chairmen, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Minister of Interior as well as Committee for the Defence of Human Right among others.
Akintoye, a first class officer and Constable in the Nigeria Police Force attached to department B operation, Police Headquarters Enugu, Enugu State was dismissed from the force over allegation of accidental discharged of firearm which led to the death of one Corporal Izuenu.
According to the former police officer who is currently battling with plarcomer eye sickness and other health challenges, said the case with charge number E/34C/Go, which was later tried in the Enugu State High Court before the Lordship Justice Anthony Ugwu, who ordered for his immediate reinstatement after been discharge and acquainted.
The former police officer who could either walk or move without been aide said in the petition written by a Forum for Human Rights Defence (FHRD) entitled:“Save My Soul and dated 4th of March 2024.
In the petition Constable Akintioye claimed that the judgement of the court recommended his immediate re-instatement, a copy of the judgement which was made available to Journalist, similarly, a publication which announced his freedom from the detention was attached to the petition.
The physically disturbed former police officer explained that all entireties to the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission were proved abortive as he continueds to battle with life before he recently loosed his sight.
The FHRD urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, and the Chairman, Police Service Commission, Mr Solom Arise, to use their good offices and intervene into the matter which he said has brought about a negative impact into the life of the victim who is a widower and father of six children.
According to the petition “In his trial which was confirmed that he was discharged and acquitted, with advice from the Department of Public Prosecution, Enugu State, after which no other appeal from any far of nearby court of jurisdiction to counter the judgement’
The FHRD described his non reinstatement back to the police since the judgement as a deliberate attempt to infringe of him rights and denial of the victim of his fundamental human rights, the FHRD equally urged the Police Service Commission and the Inspector General of Police as a matter of urgency to commence the move for the payment of salaries and gratitude to the victim and give telephone number of the former police officer as 0703 799 2556.
Similarly, in a notification of appeal against the dismissal of the victim, written by his Lawyer, Yomi Oshodi, on his behalf, passionately appealed to the Police Service to take a critical look on the complaint and kindly right all the wrongs against him.
According to the lawyer: “Our client was a first class police Constable with force number 29827 stationed department B operations, police headquarters, Enugu until his interdiction from duty, having being punished as stated in the attached notification punishment, we her.
“Our client, arising from the accidental discharge of firearm while on duty post, the case which was tried before the Enugu High Court on two counts of Manslaughter contrary to section 325 of the criminal code among others.
“Having been found not guilty by the trial court set up under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it is unfair to return a verdict of guilty and negligence of duty arising from the same circumstances which had been investigated and tried by a learned court.
“After receiving our client dismissal letter some police sympathisers visited him revealed that one Mr Toworu, has been chasing his file from table to table immediately it got to “A” department at the police headquarters, our client is appealing to you to please sympathetically review his case and order his reinstatement in Nigeria police force. At present our client is suffering from a lot of hardship with his family and six children”