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As
a result of the revelations, IGP Idris constituted a panel to
investigate the 2006 arrest, transfer and eventual release of Evans and
his members.
The
woman accused of aiding suspected kidnap kingpin Chukwudumeje George
Onwuamadike (alias Evans) to escape justice in 2006 is still in the
police, The Nation learnt yesterday. It was gathered that the woman,
simply identified as Tina, is now a Chief Superintendent of Police
(CSP). She was unmasked by a Special Investigation Panel (SIP)
constituted by Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris to probe
Evans’ 2006 arrest, transfer from Lagos State to Imo State and
eventual release.
After
the suspect’s arrest last month, a senior police officer told reporters
that his team apprehended Evans in 2006 after a bank robbery.
The
officer had claimed that Evans and his gang members had a gun duel at
the National Theatre in Surulere, Lagos Mainland after a disagreement in
sharing their loot, adding that the kingpin was shot and left to die.
According
to the officer, Tina, who was a Superintendent of Police (SP) at the
time, mounted pressure on them to release Evans and two of his members
but when her request was not met, she went through Imo State Command,
where a signal was sent for the transfer of the suspects.
The panel was to identify all officers who had a hand in the matter, whether serving or retired.
According
to a source, the panel has made “reasonable progress” in its
investigation because almost all the officers that took part in the
“rape of justice” have been identified.
He said the police might soon release statement on the issue.
The
source said: “I can tell you that Tina is not the woman’s real name but
I won’t give you her name. I can also tell you she’s now a CSP and
still in service. So many officers took part in that 2006/2007 release
of Evans and they are being investigated. The panel has made progress
and almost all of them have been identified. An official statement might
be release by the authorities soon.”
The
fundamental rights suit filed by Evans has been assigned to Justice
Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court in Lagos for adjudication.
The
case, a source said, has been returned to the registry for temporary
assignment to another judge who will sit during the court’s long
vacation.
The
vacation judge handles only urgent motions and cases bordering on human
rights violations before they are re-assigned permanently to other
judges.
The
source said: “The case was assigned to Justice Kuewumi. But due to its
nature, the judge felt it would be better handled by a vacation judge.
“He felt it would not be ideal to adjourn it for hearing until after the long vacation in September.
“So, it was the judge who gave parties the July 13 date to appear before the vacation judge after studying the file.”
The court will begin its nine-week annual vacation on Monday. It will resume on September 8.
A
statement by Chief Registrar Emmanuel Gakko reads: “The Federal High
Court of Nigeria hereby wishes to notify the general public, lawyers and
litigants that the court’s annual vacation for the year 2017 shall
commence from Monday, 10th July 2017 and would end onFriday, 8th
September 2017.
“The court would therefore resume on Monday, the 11th day of September 2017.”
Two
judges – Justice Abdulazeez Anka and Justice Chuka Obiozor – will take
turns to sit during the vacation in the Lagos division.
It was not immediately clear who will sit first during the vacation.
Evans sued the Inspector-General of Police for alleged violation of his fundamental rights.
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