The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wilson Inalegwu, to appear before it today over the alleged illegal demolition of Frontiers Academy, Jikwoyi, Phase 11 Abuja.
The Commission, at its hearing of petitions on demolitions and illegal evictions in the North Central sitting in Abuja and chaired by its executive secretary, Prof Bem Angwe, stated that if the police commissioner failed to appear before the panel any decision taken by the Commission would be binding on him.
He said: “The FCT Commissioner of Police is to appear before the Commission tomorrow. If he fails to appear, the Commission would proceed without him and its decisions would be binding on him.”
Angwe also cautioned counsel in the matter over unnecessary delays, noting that if they do not show seriousness, the petitions would be disposed off.
Hearing has been fixed for Wednesday to enable counsel to file all the necessary evidence.
“We are out here to ensure that justice is done. We need Counsel to address the Commission before the court as we cannot go ahead with this matter while the case is still pending in court. So, if you, the petitioners are saying that the matter is still on-going in court and if the issue before us and the High court are similar, we have to find out if there are no nexus between the two matters because we are only interested in the human rights issues involved.
The Mpape Residents Association, which dragged the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), the FCT Administration and the commissioner of police, FCT, before the commission, said that there are human rights issues as some of them have had their houses demolished based on their religious affiliation and where they come from.
