On Thursday, the #EndSARS panel in Abuja, which is probing incidents of police abuse, demanded that the police legal team present officers identified in connection with the murder of Dul Kate Maxwell, a sergeant, who reportedly died inexplicably in custody in 2019.
According to the panel, the officials of interest include the Divisional Police Officer of Denton Police Division, Lagos State, the officer in charge of the defunct Special Ant-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Lagos State, and the second in command of the Lagos State SARS.
The #EndSARS panel in Abuja, chaired by Suleiman Galadima, ordered the legal team to either present the officers on December 1 or disclose significant facts concerning the deceased’s “mystery demise.”
Extraordinary rendition Executions
According to Mr. Maxwell’s uncle, Ndam Tokbe, who appeared before the panel on Thursday, said the incident occurred in February 2019.
Mr Tokbe said he received a call from a station officer of ABJ Railway police station, Ebute Metta, telling him that his brother had been arrested and taken to Denton Police station in Ebute Metta, Lagos State.
“I took permission from work and hurried to ABJ Railway police station. On getting there, the officers there told me my brother had been arrested the previous day,” Mr. Tokbe said.
He said he was told by Mr. Maxwell’s colleagues at ABJ Railway police station that his nephew worked overnight and was on his way home in the morning when a motorcyclist hit him.
An altercation, Mr. Tokbe said, ensued, with Mr. Maxwell threatening to arrest the motorcyclist for allegedly riding on the wrong lane.
During the altercation, the motorcyclist raised the alarm and called Mr. Maxwell an armed robber, the witness said, adding that the noise got the attention of the passers-by.
According to Mr. Tokbe, his nephew denied the armed robbery allegation and identified himself as a police officer to the crowd of passers-by, to no avail.
He was arrested and then taken to Denton Police Division, the witness said.
“I later went to Denton Police Division with a friend and officers from ABJ Railway station to secure Sergeant Maxwell’s bail. We discovered that Sergeant Maxwell has been transferred to SARS office in Ikeja.
“On getting to SARS office in Ikeja, my friend and I were denied access to Sergeant Maxwell. But his colleagues from ABJ Railway police station were allowed to see him,” Mr. Tokbe added.
Mr. Tokbe said the police officers from the ABJ Railway police division told him afterward that Mr. Maxwell had been tortured and was not in a good condition. He added that all their appeals for his release on bail for treatment were rejected.
“We retired home that day to come back the next day as it was already getting late,” Mr. Tokbe said.
He said when they got to the SARS office the following day, they were told that Mr. Maxwell was dead and that his body had been deposited at the mortuary in Yaba Mainland hospital.
He testified further that he was told that the case had been transferred to Panti police station for further investigation.
After asking to see Mr. Maxwell’s body to confirm his identity, Mr. Tokbe said he was taken to the mortuary at Yaba.
“We saw Sergeant Maxwell. All his body was bruised. One of his eyes was open and red. When we asked that the corpse be released for burial, the officers from Panti said Sergeant Maxwell was an armed robber and that the corpse would be buried by the government and not released to the family,” Mr. Tokbe said.
At Panti police station, Mr. Tokbe said he was asked to pay some amount of money for investigation and embalmment of the corpse. He said he told them if the government wanted to bury him, then they should do the embalmment.
He said since 2019 when the incident occurred, the corpse had not been released to the family.
Mr. Maxwell’s sister, Maryam Maxwell, also testified on Thursday, confirming Mr. Tokbe’s testimony.
While speaking Daniel Dashe, who is also the counsel for the complainant’s family, said Mr. Maxwell left behind a wife and two children.
The lawyer tendered some documents, pictures, and the identity card of Mr. Maxwell and were all admitted as exhibits.
Petit Ion
Mr. Maxwell’s remains were allegedly buried with other unclaimed bodies, according to the petitioner signed by Mr. Dashe.
In their appeal, the family urged that all officers involved in the alleged murders be apprehended and prosecuted.
They also demanded restitution and an apology.
Following worldwide #EndSARS protests against the rogue police unit and allegations of police brutality in general, SARS was declared illegal in October 2019.
In the aftermath of the protest, #EndSARS panels were established in 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to review allegations of police rights violations, suggest compensation for worthy victims, and censure or prosecution for erring police officers.
Ada Peter
