Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has renewed his appeal to #EndSARS protesters in the state to suspend their protests and create an atmosphere for the resolution of all pending demands.
Governor Sanwo-Olu made the appeal on Monday while inaugurating a 7-member Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution into SARS Abuses in the state.
The members of the panel were sworn-in on at the State House, Marina, Lagos with a mandate to thoroughly Investigate all verifiable claims of abuses and fatalities arising from SARs activities in the state with the aim of bringing erring officers to justice and get compensation for the victims.
The panel, which is headed by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, will sit for six months .
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Other members of the judicial panel are: Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN – representing the Civil Society; Mr. Taiwo Lakanu – a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police; Ms. Patience Udoh – representing the Civil Society; Mr. Segun Awosanya – Human Rights Activist; Mrs Olutoyin Odusanya – Director, Lagos Citizens Mediation Centre; Two Representatives of the protesting youth and a Representative of the National Human Rights Commission.
While swearing in members of the panel,the Governor said the panel is expected to judiciously use its powers to ensure that all necessary parties appeared before it to testify, as the members of the panel had the mandate to ensure that the rule of law prevailed.
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,” he added.
He said the state and indeed the whole country had in the last two weeks,witnessed the justified protests of youths against police brutality, saying that the pain of the young ones had been felt.
“They have spoken in one voice against the unbridled violation of their rights and lives by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad. Through the #EndSARS protests, Nigerians from all walks of life have spoken loud and clear on the need for government at all levels to take immediate and concrete actions to secure the lives of innocent Nigerians, especially the youth – many of whom have suffered gross violation of their fundamental human rights.Some have even lost their lives under questionable circumstances.”
The governor said he looked forward to the panel’s recommendations, which he pledged to implement to the best of his ability, saying his government was determined to ensure that the Police and other security agencies no longer brutalise or kill 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: I understand your pain and I know your concerns are genuine and legitimate.
“I must reiterate that while we were able to immediately acquiesce to some of your demands, some others will require time: we ask you to bear with us as we dutifully work on your demands. I assure you that Lagos State will neither tolerate the violation of your fundamental human rights nor the victimization of its residents.”
“I believe that some of the actions we have taken including the constitution of this Judicial Panel of Inquiry, should to a large extent, show our sincerity and willingness to address all your concerns. We are committed to the complete overhaul of the Nigerian Police; the inauguration of this judicial panel is only the first step in a long line of reformative actions that will lead to a thorough revamp and reorientation of the Nigerian Police.
“I will, therefore, like to renew my appeal to you to suspend the protests and create an atmosphere for the resolution of all pending demands. I encourage everyone brutalized by the disbanded SARS (including the families of those who died) to present their case before this Panel,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said the task of reforming the Nigerian Police was achievable, but noted that it required the cooperation of all Lagosians, including the youth to accomplish this, saying that “Through our collective actions, we will ensure that all wounds are healed, justice is served, and every guilty police officer is prosecuted.”
