#EndSARS: Police Brutality: Gov. Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates Judicial Panel Of Inquiry To Sit For Six Months

…Tasks Members To Ensure Rule Of Law Prevails

LAGOS- Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday inaugurated a Seven-Man Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution to investigate the cases of brutality and human rights violations committed by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The panel, which is headed by Justice Doris Okuwob (rtd), will sit for six months and is mandated to thoroughly investigate the verifiable claims of abuses and fatalities arising from SARS engagement in Lagos State, with the objective of bringing erring officers to justice and getting compensation for victims.

In his remarks at the event, which held at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu noted that considering the enormity of the task at hand and the need to ensure that the tenets of due process and fair hearing are upheld, the state government selected a seasoned and unblemished judge to head the judicial panel and assured that justice will indeed be served.

The governor tasked members of the panel to judiciously use its (panel’s) powers to ensure that all necessary parties appear before it to testify, adding that the members of the panel have the mandate to ensure that the rule of law prevails.

Other members of the judicial panel include Ebun Adegboruwa, (SAN) – representing the Civil Society; Taiwo Lakanu – a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police; Patience Udoh – representing the Civil Society; Segun Awosanya, Human Rights Activist; Olutoyin Odusanya – Director, Lagos Citizens’ Mediation Centre; two representatives of the protesting youth; a representative of the National Human Rights Commission.

According to the governor, the panel will sit for six months with the following terms of reference: Receive and investigate complaints of police brutality or related extra-judicial killings in Lagos State and ensure that victims and their families are able to publicly air their grievances; evaluate evidence and draw conclusions on the validity of the complaints; determine and recommend compensation and other remedial measures where appropriate, and issue cheques in favour of victims or their dependents; determine the officers responsible for the abuse of victims and recommend their prosecution.

Other points of reference are: to make recommendations to the Lagos State government on what must be done to ensure that the Police and all security agencies no longer abuse the rights of citizens; and recommend Standard Operating Procedures for the Police on relating with citizens while discharging their duties.

Sanwo-Olu noted that by “Virtue of Section 5 of Tribunals of Inquiry Law, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, this tribunal being set up today has powers to procure all such evidence, written or oral, and to examine all such persons as witnesses as the tribunal may think necessary or desirable to procure or examine and summon any person in Nigeria to attend any meeting of the tribunal to give evidence or produce any document or other thing in the person’s possession.”

The governor said: “Mindful that these complaints may be against police officers who maybe in active service or already dismissed, the tribunal has a mandate to carry out the directives of the Federal Government to enable it discharge its duties without fear or favour.

“We expect the panel to judiciously use its powers to ensure that all necessary parties appear before it to testify: the members of the panel have the mandate to ensure that the rule of law prevails.”

While thanking the chairman and members of the newly-inaugurated panel for responding to the call of duty, the governor expressed optimism that this would open a new chapter in police-citizen relationship.”

He, therefore, urged the panel “to approach the task with all sense of responsibility, even as Lagosians look to you for a fair and just outcome.

“On our part, we look forward to your recommendations, which we pledge to implement to the best of our ability. We are determined to ensure that the Police and other security agencies no longer brutalize or kill our people. We will continue to play our part in the entrenchment of a just and secure society. I am on the side of the young people out there.”

On her part, Justice Okuwobi assured the delivery of justice, good governance and wellbeing of the residents, as well as to serve the people of Lagos State with utmost trust, dignity and labour.

Meanwhile, a popular human rights law, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, said his membership of the panel is free and a form of sacrifice

“Today, I joined others for the inauguration of d Panel of Inquiry into abuses and violations of human rights. Its a great honour to be part of this healing process, sacrificially. I do this on part-time basis freely, without any pecuniary benefit, payment or allowance. Together, we shall heal the wounds and conquer!” he said