3rd August, 2015
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
Members of Benson Obode family, who allegedly died while in custody of the police in Benin, have petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, requesting him to set up an independent investigative panel to unravel how their son died in while in police custody.
The 26-year-old car dealer was said to have died in police custody on 21 May this year, following his arrest by four policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos State on allegations that he bought a stolen car worth N5.5 million.
Benson’s family who searched for his whereabouts for 63 days, however got information that he was killed the very day he was arrested and his corpse deposited at the Benin Central Hospital mortuary.
The family in the petition signed by their Counsel, Philip Okoh, urged the IGP to investigate the role of the Commissioners of Police in Edo and Lagos States and operatives of the SARS Divisions in both states.
Meanwhile, the identities of the four policemen who allegedly arrested Benson were given as Oniyo Musa, Adeleke Adedeji, Henry Shobowale and Abena John.
The late Benson family and Police sources confirmed at the weekend that they have been arrested and would
soon be taken to Benin City, the Edo State capital.