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43. Eleven-year-old boy. He had been detained for two weeks in the torture room. He was too
weak to stand and complained of hunger.
44. Goke Olawale. He demonstrated the torture methods used by the CID officers. He
reported that that IPO who tortured him is Sgt Dickson.
45. Ms. Tokonbo Akinoele. She was detained with two other women among
approximately 120 male detainees. She did not complain about any harassment from the male
detainees.
46.
Ms. Shuttuola Wasilat. She reported that IPO Friday tortured her.
47.
Ms. Jamiu Sikiry. Another female detainee in the torture room.
48. Recommendations. In his debriefing, the Deputy Commissioner stated that the officials
“would try not to torture”, however the detainees in the torture room were not “normal
criminals”, but armed robbers. The women in the room were reportedly not detainees but in the
process of being screened, and that due to a lack of space they are locked up with men. The
Deputy Commissioner assured that the severely injured persons, Mr. Abdurmo Adekunk and
Mr. John, would immediately receive proper medical care and no detainee would have to fear
reprisals for having spoken to the Special Rapporteur.
49. By telephone on 10 March 2007, the Special Rapporteur made a direct plea to
Mr. Sunday Ehindero, the Inspector General of Police, for urgent medical treatment, and
assurances were received in this regard (in addition, follow-up letters were sent on 6 and
27 April). Appeals for assistance were also sent to the Controller General of Prisons, the Minister
of Justice/Attorney General, as well as the President of the Republic.
50. A visit on 3 April 2007 by United Nations officials found the “torture room” in CID Panti
emptied. According to the officers in charge Mr. John and Mr. Abdurmo Adekunk were brought
to court shortly after the Special Rapporteur’s visit. The District Court Chief Prosecutor,
Magistrate Court Yaba, indicated that Mr. Abdurmo Adekunk (case file C 26/07) was sentenced
for armed robbery and imprisoned at Ikoyi Island Prison, Lagos. However, upon inquiries by the
Lagos Prison Controller, the Head of Ikoyi Prison reported that Mr. Abdurmo Adekunk did not
appear on the current list of inmates. Furthermore, according to the files of the Investigating
Police Officer, CID Panti, on 12 March 2007, Mr. John’s case (charge number - N/23/2007) was
transferred to Magistrate Court No. 12, Ebute - Meta, Lagos. However, to date, no records
related to this case ever reached the court.
51. On 21 May 2007, on the occasion of the InterAction Council of Former Heads of State
and Government in Vienna, the Special Rapporteur raised the case of the above men with
President Obasanjo. On 28 May, President Obasanjo wrote to the Special Rapporteur to assure
him of the assistance of the IGP in the follow-up to these cases. On 6 June, the Special
Rapporteur reiterated his appeal for information on the situation of these detainees to the
newly inaugurated IGP, Mr. Mike Okiro. By letter dated 14 September 2007, the Government
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