The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated an eight-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution which will receive and investigate complaints of police brutality in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu in a tweet today 19th October, 2020 stated that “As we move to end police brutality, by virtue of Section 5 of Tribunals of Inquiry Law, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, I inaugurated an 8-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution which will receive and investigate complaints of police brutality in Lagos.”
He further explained that “The panel will in the next 24 hours be joined by 2 youth representatives and a member of the National Human Rights Commission as we look to provide restitution while following due process.”
“In Lagos, beyond setting up this panel which we hope will serve as a representation of our broader interests, we have established a N200 million fund for compensation to families and individuals who have been victimized by officers of the disbanded SARS.”
Pleading with the youth he said, “I am on the side of the young people out there. I understand your pain and I know your concerns are legitimate. I must reiterate that while we were able to immediately acquiesce to some of your demands, some will require time: we ask you to bear with us as we work on them.”
“I will 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 have died to present their cases before this Panel.” He concluded.
This action was taken in accordance to the just concluded Nation Economic Council (NEC) meeting where the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo chaired the meeting of the 36 state governors and the Minister of the FCT, which led to the resolution of setting up judicial panels of inquiry so that justice can be served faster. Each governor have been prompted to set up a Victims’ Support Fund, which the Federal Government would support as the least that can be done to compensate for the injustice suffered at the hands of errant officers.
