EndSARS: Panel recommends Police Sergeant for prosecution over attempted murder

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The Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation on police brutality, and human rights violations by security operatives has recommended a Police Sergeant, Gbenga Olajide for prosecution in a court of competent jurisdiction over attempted murder.

The panel made the recommendation at its sitting in Abeokuta.

During the sitting, the police sergeant admitted that he was guilty of stabbing one Mr Olusola Oladunjoye in the neck with a knife in February, 2017.

 Oladunjoye had in a petition before the panel alleged that Sergeant Olajide stabbed him when he went to a bank in Abeokuta for transaction.

Narrating his experience, the petitioner, a Weight- lifter who came fourth in the 69kg category while representing Nigeria in India in the year 2008, said he went to the bank to withdraw money in preparation for his trip to Cuba to participate in the Weight Lifting Festival in 2017.

He said there were cars and motorcycles parked in front of the bank and in an attempt to pass, he jumped over a motorcycle.

He added that in the process, a police officer accosted him asking if he knew the implication of his action.

Oladunjoye said while the police officer was still speaking with him, the culprit slapped him from the back and later stabbed him on the side of the neck with a knife.

Speaking during cross examination, Sergeant Olajide informed the panel that after the incident, he was tried and charged for an offence of discreditable conduct.

He said he was found guilty, locked up for more than a month and also reduced to a Corporal by the Nigeria Police Force in year 2017 through the office of the Provost, Ogun State Command in care of 16PMF with signal CH6450/OGS/PROV/VOL 21/312 DTO 231549/02/2017.

The Panel Chairman, Justice Solomon Olugbemi explained that the panel was left with no other option than to recommend the police sergeant for immediate prosecution having discovered that he had also fraudulently got himself promoted to the rank of Inspector and had even received Inspector salary.

Justice Olugbemi revealed that the prosecution became necessary because the officer was brought from Akure, Ondo State and might escape justice if allowed to go away without immediate investigation and trial, adding that the Panel would make further appropriate recommendations to the government.

The Chairman thereafter ordered that Olajide be immediately be handed over to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police through the Command Provost, SP Gbadamosi Dende for proper investigation, orderly room retrial and prosecution for the offence of attempted murder.

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