EKITI STATE HOSTS OPENING SESSION OF THE JUDICIAL PANEL OF INQUIRY INTO ALLEGATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AGAINST POLICE OFFICERS, INCLUDING OFFICERS OF THE SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD (SARS) AND OTHER PERSONS

Webteam CSOMedia Posted On November 2, 2020

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The session started at 10:44am with a welcome address by Cornelius Adetayo, Chairman of the Judicial Panel.

The chairman welcomed everyone present at the opening session and went ahead to emphasize that the creation of the Panel is aimed primarily to serve justice to every member of the state.

It is important to note that this panel has been inaugurated across the thirty six states of Nigeria.

He went further to solicit for the cooperation of every member of the public reiterating the strong commitment of the panel to work and co-operate with everyone.

The door of the panel has been made wide open to everyone to bring their witnesses and petitions to the panel.

There has been the provision of interpreters to be able to communicate in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and any other language that would need the services of an interpreter.

He ended his welcome address by ensuring the public that justice shall be done to all complains received by the panel.

In order to promote transparency and inclusiveness, some groups were invited to make statements and contributions towards the activities of the panel;

The youth representative kolade Talola spoke on behalf of the youths.” Our expectations are emphasized on justice and those who have suffered loss to be compensated” he said. The panel is expected to function fearlessly without any external influence and should ensure petitioners are not harassed or intimidated

The Chairman of the Panel responded saying that the panel will act Independently without any influence from Government. He stated that it’s an offence to intimidate any person for making a report to the panel and steps will be taken to ensure that nothing of that nature occurs and also to melt out punishment to whomever is caught carrying out such an act.

The President National Council for Women Society Ekiti state, Bolatito Alabi spoke on behalf of the women groups.

“We must bear in mind that as women we are the centre of the issue. We are the mothers of the youths, as well as the police. The youths should please be calm, for their cries and agitations haven’t fallen on deaf ears” she said.

The CP, Tunde Mobayo represented the police force. He thanked the panel for the privilege given to him to appear before the panel and make contribution. He mentioned that the police has its own mechanism to handle cases of brutalization and he also expressed his joy of the setting up of the panel. He said some weeks ago about 10 officers were dismissed for officers who go against the law. Punishment is been melted out to officers who brutalize citizens or act out of line.

The Honourable Attorney General Adewale Fapohunda expressed his gratitude to the members of the panel for accepting to serve especially in the midst of the anger going on in the state and across the nation. The state government is aware of the public expectations regarding the activities of the panel. His vision and expectation is that the panel will facilitate a long overdue dialogue between the youths and the justice Institution. Our justice system could appear intimating and has kept victims who have experienced brutalization from seeking justice. The mandate of this panel also covers victims of the ENDSARS protest as well as those who took this medium to harass, maim and rape citizens.