Sterling Law Centre condemns alleged inhuman treatment of Abuja hotel cleaner by DSS

The Sterling Law Centre has condemned the Department of Security Service for allegedly inhumane treatment of one Patrick Okachi, a cleaner at the Statement Hotel in Abuja.

The center urged the FCT Commissioner of Police to order an immediate investigation and the prosecution of suspects in the appropriate court in a statement that was jointly signed yesterday by its Director, Deji Ajare, and Executive Communication Officer, Adaobi Iyiegbu.

According to the center, on November 3, 2022, Okachi, a cleaner at the Statement Hotel in Abuja, was going about his regular business when he received a call from Celina Okafor, the hotel’s secretary.

“She accused him of stealing an undisclosed amount of money from the office of the Chairman the previous day and claimed that he was caught on CCTV camera. He denied this allegation and demanded to see the CCTV footage, which was not shown to him.

“Okafor, instead of taking the lawful route, to investigate and verify her suspicion, decided to take the route of infamy, by contacting one Festus who arranged for two rogue officials of DSS to come into the office, pick Patrick and torture him by beating him severely with all kinds of weapons.

To further pressure him into admitting guilt for the theft, they even inserted sharp objects into his penis.

“They took Patrick to another location in Dawaki, where they kept him for two days. When it was clear that Patrick was not going to confess to the crime he did not commit, the men took Patrick out and dumped him on the streets of Abuja.”

The center reported that the brutality had been reported to the Federal Secretariat’s Central Police Station in Abuja, and that an investigation had been opened.

In order to ensure that attempts to sway the investigation and prosecution of the suspects are unsuccessful, the center has made an appeal to the police.

They urged all pertinent organizations, including the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malami Abubakar, the National Human Rights Commission, the National Committee Against Torture, civil society organizations, and the media, among others, to speak out and support Patrick in their various capacities.