Counsel to Union Bank Nigeria PLC, Bernard Adiukwu Esq has informed the Independent Investigative panel on human rights violations by defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police Force that it has nothing to do with an abandoned vehicle in its premises belonging to one Hon. Ngozika Ihuoma.
Adiukwu Esq made this known on Wednesday when the case of alleged intimidation, confiscation of properties and disobedience of court order between Hon. Ihuoma (petitioner), Union Bank Nigeria PLC Maitama branch Abuja and personnel of the Nigerian Police Force linked to the matter.
Counsel to the petitioner, Mark Ezewugo Esq, had in an earlier petition before the panel, accused the bank of conniving with the police and impounding his client's car which he claimed is still in custody of the bank.
Narrating the events which led to the car being at the bank’s premises, the petitioner told the panel that he was arrested by the police sometime in 2013 while at the bank’s branch in Maitama to carry out a transaction.
Narrating further, Ihuoma stated that in January and February of 2014, he wrote to the bank requesting for the release of the car, but his request was turned down under the guise that the matter for which he was arrested by the police is still under investigation.
Reacting to the allegation made by the petitioner, counsel to Union Bank said, "The bank has never stopped the complainant from coming to take his car".
The car which was impounded since 2013 is said to be in a very bad shape, having been immobile for several years, lamented Hon. Ihuoma.
As at the last hearing on the matter, Chairman of the panel, justice Suleiman Galadima rtd, had instructed lead counsel to the police, James Idachaba Esq to avail the panel with the name of the DPO
Maitama as at 2013 when the arrest was made, since the petitioner was unable to provide his name.
When the matter came up for hearing today, Idachaba failed to provide the name of the DPO as requested by the panel.
According to Idachaba, "I made concerted efforts, I personally made several calls. If given additional time, I will ensure that I locate the DPO who served in Maitama in 2013".
In his rulling, the retired chief justice adjourned the matter indefinitely to be referred to the National Human Rights Commission for continuation of investigation.
