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KILLING OF POLICEMEN: Falana queries Army’s investigative panel

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A human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, on Wednesday condemned an investigative panel set up by the Nigerian Army to probe the soldiers that killed policemen in Taraba on August 7.

Falana who spoke at a Civil Society media roundtable on inter-agency conflict in Abuja, said the investigative panel by the army authority was illegal.

He called for its immediate disbandment.

His words: “As a result of the violent attack, three policemen and a civilian were killed in cold blood while other policemen were seriously injured. After the brutal killing, the soldiers proceeded to free the alleged notorious suspect.

“In a bid to cover up the unlawful killing of the four people, the authorities of the Nigerian Army claimed that it was a case of mistaken identity.

“Notwithstanding the spurious claim, the Chief of Defence Staff-General Abayomi Olonisakin, was reported to have set up a panel of enquiry to unravel what led to the unlawful killing of the four people.

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“The setting up of the panel is diversionary, illegal and ultra vires.

“Since the slain civilian and policemen were not subject to service law, the military authorities lack the vires to cause an investigation to be conducted into a murder case covered by Section 4 of the Police Act.”

Falana argued further that although the panel had commenced investigation, it had no legal basis, adding that the Chief of Defence Staff had no power under the Armed Forces Act, the Commission of Enquiry Law of Taraba State or any other law to institute the panel.

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