Lawyer demands probe of NIS officer’s death in custody  

…Its a lie- spokesman

A lawyer, Daniel Makolo has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to probe the death of Luka Andrew in custody of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), saying he was tortured.

Andrew, an immigration officer was said to have been arrested by the police for being in possession of ammunition, but he was later released to the NIS in whose custody he allegedly died shortly after.

But the NIS spokesman Sunday James, has said he was not in the know of any death in their custody.

Makolo, who is also an immigration officer, stated that the deceased was healthy when he was released to the NIS last month, noting that autopsy report indicated that he suffered “cardiopulmonary arrest caused by acute kidney injury.”

According to the petition, the autopsy report signed by Dr. D. M. Yasika of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, showed that the immigration officer died on August 4, 2017.

Makolo argued that Andrew was not given fair hearing while in ‘NIS detention camp,’ alleging that he was denied access to his family, food and medication while being tortured.

The petition read, “While police investigation was going on, the Nigeria Immigration Service Comptroller-General, Muhammed Babandede requested the police to release the suspect and thereafter, it is on record that the service took him healthy into detention camp.

“There is need to investigate the service and cause an independent audit of NIS arms and ammunition found with the deceased by the police for which he was arrested, detained and subsequently released to his ultimate demise.”

The lawyer accused the NIS of detaining individuals without court orders, stressing that this is against any known law in the country.

He accused the service of hounding him over baseless  allegations, adding that his efforts to get justice proved abortive.

When contacted on phone, the NIS Public Relation Officer Sunday James, said: “I’m not aware of anybody’s death in our custody.”

He, however, promised to find out and call back which he has not at the time of filling this report.

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