Idoma lawyers demand inclusion in slain NSCDC officer’s probe

The Association of Idoma Lawyers has demanded inclusion in the investigation and prosecution of the murder of an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogah Ochigbo Jumbo.

Jumbo, Assistant Superintendent of the NSCDC, was on March 19 allegedly beaten to death by traffic officers of the Nigerian Police in Nyanya, Abuja while in the company of his wife and children over allegations of driving against traffic.

In a letter jointly signed by Godwin Obla (SAN) and Dr J.Y. Musa (SAN) and addressed to the acting Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed over the weekend, the lawyers requested to be mutually involved in a post-mortem examination of the cause of death of the deceased to ensure it meets all “parameters of justice delivery.”

The association stated that even if the deceased officer was guilty of a traffic violation as accused by his killers, it was not enough reason for him to be killed, as the law stipulates a penalty of fine for such actions.

The lawyers, who queried the decision of the Nigerian Police Force to prosecute the case in which its men are accused of the offence, warned against attempts to cover up the crime.

“Otherwise in the event of any cover-up or foot-dragging in the prosecution of this heinous and clear case of wanton culpable homicide, the association will spare no efforts at exploring the alternative prosecutorial route of Direct Criminal Prosecution Laws of the FCT. This we shall not hesitate to undertake alongside an already contemplated civil action in humongous sums in hundreds of millions of Naira in damages,” the group said in the statement.