#EndSARS: Oyo judicial panel recommends compensations for 121 petitions on police abuses

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Wednesday, received the report of the state Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Police Brutality and Other Related Matters, at the Oyo governor’s office, Ibadan.

It will be recalled that Makinde had on November 10, 2020, inaugurated the Oyo Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality in the state in compliance with the directive of the federal government that states should set up panels of inquiry, following the #EndSARS protests of October 2020.

The report presented by panel Chairperson, Justice Badejoko Adeniji (rtd.) recommended that the state government awards compensation on 121 petitions on abuses that resulted in death, permanent physical injuries resulting in disabilities.

Other categories where an award of compensations was proposed were those petitions on the loss of valuable items and properties, victims undergoing medical or surgical treatment or suffering partial injuries, unlawful detention and other human rights violations.

The report detailed victims that are residents in Oyo State and were brutalised, victimised, tortured and violated by men of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (Amotekun), the state Security Joint Task Force (Operation Burst) and unknown hoodlums.

Also contained in the report is that of Oyo State residents brutalised, victimised, tortured and violated by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), officers of the Oyo State Police Command and those arrested and taken to Abuja by men of the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of Police where they were tortured and violated.

From January 26, 2021, to July 13, 2021, when the panel held public sittings, Adeniji reported that the panel received a total of 151 petitions out of which 121 were adjourned sine die for an award of compensations while 30 petitions were struck out for three main reasons.

She said the 30 petitions were struck out for lack of diligent prosecution by the petitioner, petitioners withdrawing their petitions haven amicably settled the issue within them and where issues in the petitions between the parties are the subject matter of litigations pending before various courts of law.

YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE

Buhari Urges MTN For Quality Service, Downward Price Review In Cost Of Data, Other Services Rulers World

We Have Not Had Water Supply In Months ― Abeokuta Residents

ICYMI: What North Will Not Accept About 2023 Presidency —Prof Mahuta, UDU Don And Kebbi Dev Foundation Chairman

Further rendering account of the panel’s work, Adeniji reported that the panel saw to the emergency referral to the State Hospital, Ring Road, the case of one Sesan Opadotun who suffered police brutality by being shot in the hip.

She also reported that the panel was able to facilitate the release of corpses of some victims of police unlawful killings to their families/relatives for befitting burial.

Furthermore, Adeniji reported that the panel was able to facilitate the release of a vehicle, motorcycle that the police seized and refused to return.

The state governor, especially, took interest in the case of one Samuel Ogundeji who, over a false accusation of stealing a banker’s wallet at a Saki hotel, was brutalised and slapped several times by the men of SARS leading to him becoming blind.

The judicial panel had reported that it got admission for Ogundeji, 23 years, at the Federal College of Education (Oyo) to study political science and paid his first semester fees, only for the governor to announce that Ogundeji will get a state government scholarship covering his tuition and stipends throughout the duration of his study.

Makinde assured that actions will soon be taken towards implementing the recommendations of the panel report.

Though he expressed satisfaction at the panel’s work, Makinde said he was also keen to have a report on abuses, maiming, brutality suffered by the police themselves in the hands of civilians.

He, consequently, tasked the state Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko, to compile a list of police victims as an addendum to the panel report for the state government to consider.