Dauda’ Allege Murder: Family Gives Bauchi Police 24hrs Ultimatum To Release Corpse For Autopsy

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI – In their quest and desire to get to the root of the matter over the alleged torture that led to the death of their 33 years old son, Dauda Danladi, the family has demanded the immediate release of the corpse for the conduct of an independent autopsy and other relevant tests.

The family of Danladi suspecting possible cover up by th police, have through their legal counsel, Shipi Rabo and Associates written the Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State Command to as a matter of urgency, release the corpse of Late Dauda for an independent autopsy.

In the letter, dated July 11, 2021 with the tilte: “A formal request to allow the family of Late Dauda Danladi, to conduct an independent autopsy on the body of the deceased who died in your custody on the night of 9th July, 2021 and whose body is still in your custody,” was jointly signed by Shipi Rabo, A. Alkali, N. Z. Bayero, and A. A. Hassan.

The letter which was copied to the Director, Department of State Service (DSS), Bauchi State, the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), the Divisional Police Officer, Yelwa Division and the Bauchi Local Government Department of State Service, further demanded the Police to release the corpse within 24 hours from the receipt of the letter, for the conduct of the autopsy and subsequent burial.

The letter reads in part: “We are retained as Solicitors to the family of late Dauda Danladi (Hereinafter referred to as our Client) on whose express instruction we write this letter.

“It is the brief of our Client that we should write to formally demand that you grant them access to conduct an independent autopsy on the body of their late son, Dauda Danladi, who died in your custody on the night of 9th July, 2021 and whose body is still in your custody”.

“We also demand that the body of the deceased be handed over to our Client after the autopsy for a befitting burial.

“Considering the fact that our Client intent to bury the deceased within a short time to reduce their grieve, we advise that you reply us either in written or by phone call on the above demands within 24 hours,” the letter states.

The late Dauda Danladi, was reported to have been arrested by a team of security agents in front of his shop located in Yelwa Tsakani, a suburb of Bauchi metropolis at about 9pm on Thursday and was taken to the Yelwa Division of the Nigeria Police, where he was allegedly tortured to death.

The death has generated controversy between the Police and the family over the cause of death of Dauda. While the police denied arresting the deceased but only assisted in conveying him to hospital owing to his health condition, the family of late Dauda and eye witness account, faulted the police saying that when the late Dauda was picked by the police team, his neighbours intervene and identified him as the owner of the shop he was standing in front and not part of the boys playing snooker but their intervention were totally ignored.