Police denies torturing detainee to death, CP orders investigations

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has denied torturing one Erasmus Emhenya to death while in police custody on April 6, 2023.

It, however, commenced full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.

The late Erasmus was reportedly held in custody as one of the principal suspects in a case of alleged murder being investigated by the FCT command.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Josephine Adeh, said: “The late Erasmus and one Benjamin Agbasi were arrested for their alleged involvement in the stabbing and killing of one 25-year-old Blessing Ogbu at the front of Number One Hotel, Nyanya, Abuja.

“Preliminary investigations by the command has, however, revealed that the suspect was not tortured to death by the Police. Meanwhile, the Acting Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, DCP Ahmed Musa, has ordered discrete investigations into the remote and immediate causes of his death while in police custody. In the same vein, as part of the ongoing investigations, an autopsy to determine the remote cause of his death has since commenced and the report of the Medical Examiner is being awaited.”

While calling for calm, the command denied torturing the suspect while in custody. The CP further noted that the autopsy and other investigative processes in the matter would substantiate their position.

He equally assured that the process would be transparent and the report would be made public in due course.

“The command assures the general public of its unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and respect for the fundamental rights of all residents in the FCT,” he added.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, and the Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Solomon Arase, had been charged to conduct an immediate investigation into the death of the 31-year-old man.

The call was contained in a statement signed by Osaro-Oniawu Jnr, National Coordinator Conflict Solution Advocacy on behalf of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Edo State, in conjunction with Womenfest for Betterlife Initiative, People’s Care and Advocacy Initiative as well as the Centre for Grassroots Development and Crime Prevention (CGDCP).

They had urged the IGP and PSC boss to utilise their good offices to ensure appropriate and timely investigation of the matter and restore the people’s faith in the country’s policing system.