September 07, (THEWILL) – The autopsy results have allegedly ruled that torture was the leading cause of death of Kubiat Isaac Akpan, a prospective National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) member who died in a police cell in Akwa Ibom state.
This allegation was made by Inibehe Effiong, the lawyer representing the deceased’s family.
Akwa Ibom state commissioner of police, Andrew Amiengheme, had ordered an autopsy amid controversies surrounding Kubiat’s death while in detention.
Effiong, in a chat with newsmen on Monday in Uyo, said more than one officer was involved in Akpan’s torture and eventual death.
“He died from torture. The pathologist has finished the process and he has addressed us. It’s just for him to submit his report. He has told us what happened. He opened up the body and I saw everything with my eyes. He had injury in the brain. You can see that he was tortured to death. He died from torture. It’s so terrible; I have never witnessed that in my life.
“There was nothing in his body that was not brought out; nothing was left. There was no way he could have survived. They tortured the young man to death and it is not only one Police officer that did it, of course; it was a team of officers. They are trying to hide the others”, he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, said he us awaiting official confirmation of the result before commenting.
The police spokesman said the deceased was arrested for alleged criminal activities. However, he added that only the law court has the right to determine whether someone is guilty or not.
“I don’t have the result of the autopsy yet. How can I speak about it? How do I speak about it when I have not seen it? When we get the real report, we will be ready to talk about it. The moment the autopsy is officially handed to us, we will make it public.
“Whatever steps the authority will take will be made known to the public. The first step we have taken is that we have arrested the officer, he is now in detention. We have ordered for the autopsy, we have to know the truth and we want justice to be done.
“So, the young man will carry the cross if he is guilty. That is how our system works. We have already made up our minds. We ordered that investigation and with all sincerity, the reason he was arrested was the criminal allegations against him.
“But our worry and disturbances are: Did our officers follow the right procedures? What happened to this young man? Was his death as a result of their action or was it natural?
“The moment we get these, we will let the whole world know and he (the officer) will face it.
“But let us follow the right procedures. You know that presumption is innocent in prosecution. Neither you, nor I, nor the lawyer has the right to say anyone is guilty; only to the law court can do that,” he said.
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