Pathologist testifies before Gombe EndSARS panel
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Following the alleged brutality and eventual death of Aliyu Mohammed in police custody, in Kumo division Akko LGA, Gombe state.
Recall that a petitioner, Abubakar Mohammed had told the Gombe State Panel of Inquiry on human rights violations against Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and other agencies, how his brother late Aliyu was beaten to death by men of the police.
Previously, Ahmadu Mohammed, cousin to the deceased, a lieutenant in the Nigeria Army, and the Imam of 301 artillery Gombe had previously testified how the police failed to sponsor the autopsy of the deceased.
He said, “When we got to the General Hospital Kumo, we found late Aliyu on a stretcher, his shirt was full of dry blood, as well as his nose and mouth which had dry blood.
“I applied for death certificate which they charged N500 for but unfortunately, I didn’t get it immediately.”
According to him, the pathologist charged them N120,000 as fees for the post mortem but made an initial deposit of N30,000 as he was neglected by police authorities who said they were not responsible for the payment.
On Monday, testifying before the Panel of Inquiry, Dr. Aliyu Lawan, Consultant Pathologist with the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, confirmed that the deceased had fractures in his brain, thereby making his brain to enlarge.
Lawan was the physician who conducted the post mortem as requested by the family and the police.
Lawan said, “Autopsy was carried out on 23rd June 2019. The deceased presented fractures which could be caused by the following reasons; The deceased falling from a height. It could be a forceful hit. It may be that he had a stroke and hit his head in the cause of falling.”
Chairman of the panel, Justice Sa’ad Mohammed (retd.), however adjourned the case to 3rd February 2021.
