There was a mild drama at the Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation Against Police Brutality following an alleged threat to members of the panel by a policeman, Sergeant Adeleke Olalekan.
The panel, which sat at the Magistrate Court 1, Isabo, Abeokuta, on Monday, was cross-examining the Officer in-Charge of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, CSP Gbenga Megbope.
Olalekan had escorted his boss, Megbope, who was a respondent in a case of brutality against some people in the state.
But the sergeant was allegedly caught pointing at the panel members in a manner suggestive of veiled threats.
Chairman of the panel, Justice Solomon Olugbemi, then called him out and booked him for punishment as stipulated under the commission of inquiry law.
The panel’s chairman who read out the law against the policeman’s action, said, “Any act of disrespect, insult or threat to the commissioners or any panel members while sitting in commission or any act of disrespect, insult or threat to a commissioner or panel members at any other time or place on account of his proceedings in his capacity as a commissioner or panel member shall be deemed to be an act of contempt within the meaning of this law under Section 16 of the same law.”
Olugbemi noted that the sergeant ought to be recommended for trial at a magistrate’s court.
But while being questioned, the police sergeant quickly prostrated and started to plead for forgiveness.
Although the panel pardoned him, the chairman warned against disrespect for the panel.