News

Restraint probably contributed to death of black man in Leicester, jury finds

A jury has found that restraint contributed to the death of a 29-year-old black man who was held down for 17 minutes in the street after an attempted robbery of a Leicestershire supermarket.

Shane Bryant, 29, a father of two young children, died due to global brain ischaemia, multiple organ failure, cardio-respiratory arrest and a period of physical restraint, a jury in Loughborough concluded.

Along with members of the public, one of the men restraining Bryant during the incident in July at a Co-op store in the town of Ashby-de-la-Zouch was an off-duty police officer known only as officer L, another was a retired police officer known as person 20.

The jury found that Bryant’s involvement in the incident and his resistance to being restrained contributed to his death. They found that much of the force used to detain him was reasonable but aspects were unreasonable and “more likely than not” contributed to his death.

They also found there were missed opportunities from the off-duty police officer in the management of the restraint that more likely than not contributed to Bryant’s death.

During the incident, Bryant was arrested, handcuffed, and arm and leg restraint straps were applied to him. Officer L applied his knee to Bryant’s back during the incident. When he was cautioned during the incident, Bryant did not reply. Paramedics began CPR before Bryant was taken to Queen’s medical centre in Nottingham, where he was pronounced dead two days later.

One unnamed witness told the inquest that while holding one of Bryant’s arms he became concerned Bryant was “struggling to breathe”.

HM assistant coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire, Michael Auty QC, heard the three-week case, which opened on 4 October at Loughborough town hall.

Bryant’s brother, Dean Bryant, paid tribute to his sibling, who was a construction worker: “Shane was hilarious to be around. He was a fun, caring, protective person and had a smile that would light up a room.”

He said his brother, who had difficulties at school and was diagnosed with ADHD, left behind two much-loved children.

“We’ve learned from the inquest that there was a catalogue of wrongdoings in the course of the attempt to restrain Shane,” he said. “Then we’ve had the unfairness of the court process, where police officers have been able to hide behind screens and the footage that has been shown [to] the jury has been hidden behind screens as well.”

He called on Leicestershire police to reopen their criminal investigation into the actions of some members of the public involved.

“We are discussing with our lawyers bringing a civil claim against the police for their failings in relation to the restraint that killed Shane,” he said.

“Shane deserved to end up in prison for his role in an attempted crime that night. He did not deserve to end up in a coffin. We want justice for Shane and accountability for any failings that contributed to his death.”

Sarah Ricca of Deighton Pierce Glynn, the family’s solicitor along with Elliot White, said: “Shane’s family is very aware that black men disproportionately die at the hands of police during restraint. They want to shine a light on the continued dangers posed by police restraint and they want to know why lessons supposedly learned from previous restraint deaths are repeatedly forgotten by the police, individually and institutionally.”

Leicestershire police have been approached for comment.

News

Presidential Spokesman Ajuri Ngelale Proceeds On Indefinite Leave Of Absence

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, has proceeded on an indefinite leave of absence.

Ngelale said the decision was taken after significant consultations with his family over the past days as a vexatious medical situation had worsened.

He made this known in a statement issued on Saturday to the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

“On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family,” he said.

“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.

“I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit. I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and I during this time.”

The leave of absence implies that he would temporarily suspend his duties as spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu

News

No tenure extension for IGP Egbetokun – Police

The Nigeria Police Force High Command has clarified the rumoured tenure extension for Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, stating that there was no extension granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Instead, the law governing the tenure of the IGP’s office was properly applied.

This clarification was made in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The statement reads, “the attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to various misleading reports and misinterpretations concerning the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, and wishes to categorically state that what His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, approved for the IGP is not an extension of tenure, but rather the proper application of the law governing the tenure of the office of the IGP.

“Contrary to the misinformation being circulated on social media and in the news, an appointment letter in circulation was issued to the IGP shortly after his appointment was confirmed by the Police Council.

This letter, dated 3rd November 2023, clearly stated that the President had approved a four-year tenure for the IGP in accordance with the provisions of Section 215(a) and Section 28(c) of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

” It is important to emphasize that the IGP does not need to lobby for any tenure extension as his appointment letter explicitly grants him a four-year tenure from the date of his appointment

“The ongoing circulation of false information is clearly the handiwork of pessimists and mischief makers who are determined to spread baseless narratives against the office and the personality of the IGP for obvious reasons and pecuniary gains.

” Furthermore, the IGP has since been issued with another letter in accordance with the provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended), which supersedes the earlier correspondence.

This clarification is necessary to put an end to the speculations and falsehoods being spread.

” We urge the public to disregard the unfounded reports and to trust that the tenure of the IGP is in full compliance with the laws governing the Nigeria Police Force.

In clear terms, IGP’s tenure of office is not subject to unnecessary debate and should not be a source of perennial distraction to policing system in Nigeria. The law is sacrosanct.”

News

EFCC grabs 44 for internet fraud in Kwara

Forty-four (44) suspected internet fraudsters were arrested at different locations in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State on Friday by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Spokesperson for EFCC, Dele Oyewale said in a statement on Friday that the suspects were arrested by the operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC.

“They were arrested on Friday September 6, 2024 at Sango, Kulende, Taxaco and Harmony Estate, all in Ilorin, following credible intelligence over their alleged involvement internet- related offences,” the EFCC spokesperson said.

He listed items recovered from the suspects to include six different brands of exotic cars, laptops, smart phones and charms.

The suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

The Ilorin Directorate of the anti-graft agency had also arrested 56 suspected internet fraudsters two days ago.