The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday, received the report on the #End SARS investigation from a Non-Governmental Organisation by the name, ‘Enough is Enough’.
Presenting the report, the Executive Director, Enough is Enough in Nigeria, Yemi Adamalokun said, in response to the #EndSARS protests in October 2020, the National Economic Council (NEC) headed by the then Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) on 15 October 2020, directed “the immediate establishment of state-based Judicial Panels of Inquiry across the country to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality or related extra-judicial killings with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other police units.”
The 42-page report said the independence and transparency of the panels across states varied depending on the level of political will and support attached by the state governments and that delays in investigations and findings hindered justice delivery and discouraged complainants in a number of jurisdictions.
It also identified a lack of political will as state governments’ responses to panel findings and recommendations varied, with some demonstrating a commitment to reform and accountability, while most states still need to carry out recommendations, and some have completely ignored the reports.
The report said that the Police is a creation of the Constitution and by virtue of that, the Federal Government is to take responsibility, adding that the Nigerian government did not allocate sufficient resources for the panels to successfully carry out their duties.
“Some state panels had to suspend sitting because of the lack of funds. This made it difficult to conduct effective hearings, prosecute police officers accused of brutality, and compensate victims.
“Transparency is a major blind spot in enhancing the quality of post-panel enforcement and accountability. A few states did not disclose either the substantive findings of their panels, compensations awarded or the status (paid or pending) of said compensatory awards.”
The report urged the federal government to facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of the States’ Judicial Panels of Inquiry into Police Brutality as a matter of national policy.
It also urged the government to hold police officers accountable for human rights violations and that quick disciplinary actions should be taken against violating officers.
“Reform the police force to promote human rights and accountability. Strengthen existing independent oversight mechanisms for the police by incorporating public participation in oversight processes, such as public hearings and the collection of citizen complaints.
“Increase transparency and accountability in the police force, especially in the recruitment process of police officers invest in police psychoanalysis, training and education, focussing on human rights and accountability,” the report stated.
It also recommended that state governments should work with the federal government to ensure that victims of Police brutality receive compensation as recommended by the state’s judicial panel of inquiry.
States should also collaborate with FG and civil society organizations to reform the police in their states to promote human rights and accountability.
Civil society organizations should continue to clamour for the implementation of the recommendations and monitor the process and to hold governments at all levels accountable for its commitments and to advocate for police reform and justice for victims.
Receiving the report at the Headquarters of the Commission in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN) said the Police Service Commission had, in a letter to the Commission assured of taking disciplinary actions against police officers found culpable in the report.
He said the National Human Rights Commission will ensure that the report on the End SARS protest will not be swept under the carpet.
Ojukwu urged all state governments to set up a human rights Committee desk and ensure that they are working to avoid a reoccurrence of the #End SARS experience.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Chairman, Human Rights Institute of the Nigerian Bar Association and General Counsel, National SARS panel, Mr. Chinonye Obiagwu commended lawyers who rendered free legal services to the 600 victims of Police brutality.
He said out of the 600 victims, nearly half did not speak out because of fear of reprisal and threats from the police officers involved in the brutality.
According to Mr. Obiagwu, “There were been sacred by police officers who don’t want to be indicted and that led to the withdrawal of some of the petitions.”
Obiagwu said some policemen invited by the panel refused to honour the invitation and ignored the directives of the panel without any consequences.
He said the Abuja panel report which recommended dismissal and prosecution of some police officers involved in the act of brutality of innocent citizens, “Up till now, none of the police officers involved has been queried not to talk of dismissal.
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