The Police Command of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja have denied the alleged killing of one Shedrach Ochoche by officers for allegedly stealing a car battery belonging to a Chinese woman, popularly known as Madam Pimpim, who interestingly was the employer of the deceased and was said to be owing him arrears of salary before he resigned in protest.
Mr. Ochoche, an indigene of Agata Local Government Area of Benue State and an ex-worker at a Chinese restaurant in the Jahi area of Abuja, was allegedly tortured to death on January 17 after he was accused of carting away the car battery.
CHECKPOINTCHARLEY gathered that prior to his alleged murder, Ochoche, a cleaner in the restaurant, had resigned over the inability of the Chinese owner to pay his salary for some months.
According to an Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Napoleon Otache, the deceased resigned from the Chinese woman’s restaurant when he was owed more than three months’ salary.
He added that five days after Ochoche resigned from the cleaning job, the Chinese woman alleged that her car battery was missing and she went and lodged a complaint at the Mabushi Police Division, Abuja, which led to the worker’s arrest.
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh has denied the report, saying “there was nothing like that”.
But Hon. Godday Samuel, member representing the people of Apa/Agatu federal constituency and and some stakeholders from Benue had condemned the murder of the 29-year-old man and are demanding justice.
Godday said Ochoche died in police custody after he was arrested and tortured by the officers.
“While in detention, his family members visited him and on seeing his bad condition due to injuries inflicted on him, his family members made a passionate appeal for his bail but their appeal for bail fell on deaf ears”, he said in a statement.
CHECKPOINTCHARLEY 