The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA has called for the immediate disbandment of the Eagle Crack Squad at Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
Port Harcourt Branch Chairman of NBA, Sylvester Adaka made the call while reacting to the discharge and acquittal of four auto mechanics by the Court in Port Harcourt.
Adaka said the DPP’s advice and the subsequent decision of the Court was an indictment on the police and an indication that the activities of E-Crack were illegal.
The NBA also said despite the release of the Ikoku Four, the Bar will not relent in ensuring that the officers involved including the Commander of E-Crack, SP Benson Adetuyi and the IPO answer for what happened to the late mechanic, Chima Ikwunado.
“The Eagle Crack unit has been notorious for a very long time. We are in Port Harcourt and we know what has been happening. They are notorious for unlawfully arresting people, torturing them and charging them on trumped-up charges.
“We as NBA have had our run-offs with them but unfortunately this Chima’s incident has hooked them. We need to stem their tide.
“And I think the first thing the police high command should do is to honourably disband that unit. The E-Crack Unit should be disbanded. Somebody has died in their custody whether as a result of torture or high sugar level which means that they are incompetent.
“Despite releasing the Ikoku 4, let the police bear in mind that their case is not over yet. The Police must bring all the officers involved in that incident to book; especially the Commander and the IPO. They have questions to answer,” he said.
A Magistrate court sitting in Port Harcourt Wednesday struck out the charges against the four young auto mechanics who were arrested, tortured and remanded by the E-Crack at the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Chief Magistrate Amadi Nna struck out the charges and subsequently discharged and acquitted the four persons following the report of the DPP which reveals that the suspects have no case to answer.
Chief Magistrate Nna ruled that the DPP reports advised that the charges against the Ikoku four by the police were unfounded and should not have come up in the first place, adding that they were mere speculations.
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