The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has commenced full investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death of one Erasmus Emhenya on April 6, 2023, while in Police custody.
The late Erasmus was reportedly being held in custody as one of the principal suspects in a case of alleged murder being investigated by the FCT Command.
According to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Josephine Adeh, “The late Erasmus and one Benjamin Agbasi were arrested for their involvement in the stabbing and killing of one 25-year-old Blessing Ogbu at the front of Number One Hotel, Nyanya, Abuja.
“Preliminary investigations by the Command has however revealed that the suspect was not tortured to death by the Police. Meanwhile, the Ag. Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command, DCP Ahmed Musa, has ordered discrete investigations into the remote and immediate cause of death, of the deceased suspect, while in Police custody. In the same vein, as part of the ongoing investigations, an autopsy to determine the remote cause of his death, has since commenced and the report of the Medical Examiner is being awaited.
“The Command leadership, while calling for calm, wishes to state categorically, that the suspect was not tortured while in Police custody. The CP noted that this would no doubt be further substantiated, upon the conclusion of the autopsy and other investigative processes in the matter. He equally assured that the process would be transparent and the report would be made public in due course.
“The Command assures the general public of its unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and respect for the fundamental rights of all residents in the FCT.”