Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has sworn in members
of the judicial panel of inquiry and restitution established to investigate
cases of human rights abuses by operatives of the disbanded special
anti-robbery squad (SARS).
The panel, chaired by Doris Okuwobi, retired justice of the
state high court, was sworn in at the State House, Marina, on Monday.
On Thursday, the governor announced the establishment of the
panel, saying the decision is based on agreements reached at the national economic
council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and
attended by all the governors.
He said the objective is to bring erring officers to justice
and get compensation for the victims.
The panel will hold its first sitting today at the head
office of the Lagos State Waterways Authority at Falomo Roundabout, in Ikoyi.
Some members of the panel include Ebun Adegboruwa, a senior
advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Taiwo Lakanu, a retired deputy inspector general of
police; Patience Udoh, a representative of the civil society; Segun Awosanya, a
human rights activist; and Olutoyin Odusanya, director of Lagos Citizens
Mediation Center.
Hearing of the cases is scheduled between 10am and 4pm
everyday.
Sanwo-Olu said members of the public can submit petitions
against SARS to the panel by contacting the help desk on the numbers: 0901 051
3203, 0901 051 3204 and 0901 051 3205.
In a series of tweets on Sunday, the governor had detailed
the duty of the panel, some of which include compensation of victims,
prosecution of erring officers, and recommending better ways of avoiding cases
of police brutality in the state.
There have been nationwide public demonstrations against
police brutality under the #EndSARS campaign for more than one week now.
One of the five-point demand of the protest, which has
entered day 12, is an investigation of cases of police brutality with the
intention to prosecute erring officers.
The protests have also been held outside Nigeria, just as
international figures have joined the calls for reform and an end to police
brutality in Nigeria.
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