A 33-year-old victim of Police brutality, Kamol Ganiyu drew glances of compassion as he told the Ogun Judicial Panel of Investigation, how he was shot on the right leg on the 17th of July 2018, in Ibara area of Abeokuta which had impaired his movement.
He made the allegation on Monday at the Magistrate Court 1, Isabo, Abeokuta while appearing before the panel set up to investigate complaints of victims of police brutality, human rights violations and extra judicial killings by security operatives within the state.
The victim also told the panel how some officers which he claimed were handling the case later invited to Eleweran, offered him N250,000, and asked him to sign a form that he would not pursue the case in court which he declined.
Narrating how the incident happened, the victim who now uses walking stick, said on the fateful day “I was driving and right under Ibara bridge in Abeokuta, I heard a gun shot which penetrated my car and destroyed my right leg.
“I fainted after losing so much blood and was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta where I spent over six months receiving treatment.”
Ganiyu equally told the panel he had been told by the doctor who handled his case he could walk again and be back to his normal life if he would seek medical help abroad.
He said he needed government’s support because in the X-ray he took after the incident revealed that the joint in the affected leg had been damaged by the gun shot and a huge amount was needed to fly him outside the country for adequate treatment.
On their part, the police respondents, ASP Akeem Jimoh and Inspector Lola Onifade who were accused of offering the victim a sum of N250,000 to bury the case denied the accusation and they failed to reveal the identity of the police officer who shot Mr Ganiyu.
Speaking, the Chairman, Ogun Judicial Panel of Investigation, Justice Solomon Olugbemi (retd) said a total of 207 medical bill receipts, eight photographs and a cloth with blood stain were received while the car with bullet hole was also inspected and marked as evidences presented by the petitioner.