*Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo top list; 7 northern states fail to raise panels
To calm frayed nerves of the protesters, comprising of mostly of youths, the National Economic Council , headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and state governors as members, met and recommended the setting up of judicial panels to look into cases of police brutality especially by SARS and point the way forward.
In June, the NEC had announced that it would convene a special session for the implementation of the reports by the judicial panels established by the states.But as the nation awaits the implementation of the reports and activists appear set to mark the anniversary of #ENDSARS on Wednesday, Sunday Vanguard can authoritatively report that panels in nine states recommended over N25bn as compensations to be paid to victims of police brutality in their reports.
The petitioners compensated include Adebayo Abayomi, Hannah Olugbodi, and Tolulope Openiyi who received N10 million each. The Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality and Other Related Matters, aside the compensations, recommended publication of public apologies by the police particularly where the reputation of victims had been tarnished.
“Another issue which became thorny was on the cases which had been decided by courts of competent jurisdiction, but were brought before the panel for lack of payment of judgment debts”. The Oyo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality said 152 petitions were treated out of the 163 it received.
On the number of victims and monetary compensations, she said: “Not every petition goes with asking for money for petitioners. “In cases where the petitioners after several adjournments did not deem it fit to appear before the panel, that means they had abandoned their petitions, we will not keep the petitions pending indefinitely after having been given the opportunity to be heard”.In Osun State, the panel concluded its sitting on March 27, 2021 after going through 34 petitions submitted before it.
While receiving the report of the panel, Fayemi used the occasion to announce the establishment of a Citizens’ Complaints’ Center, which would be saddled with the responsibility of receiving complaints and grievances for necessary government action.The Judicial Panel of Investigation on Police Brutality and Extra-judicial Killings set up by Ogun State government submitted its report to Governor Dapo Abiodun with recommendation of over N218 million as compensation to 42 victims or families.
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