Nigeria, June 29 -- Frank Omenka, a retired colonel and former commander of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DMI) Security Group under the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, claims he only learnt about the Oputa Panel about 12 years after it concluded.

Although the panel's sittings were televised in Nigeria and reported by local and international media, Mr Omenka, who faced several human rights accusations before the panel, said he did not learn of its existence until 12 years later.

At a virtual interview with journalists on 25 June, Mr Omenka also denied raping a teenager and eventually causing her death, one of the many human rights violations he was accused of at the Oputa panel.

The interview was Mr Omenka's first public ap...