TheCable

The Lagos judicial panel on police brutality concluded its sitting on Monday, and said its findings and recommendations will be submitted to the state government.

Over the past year, the panel has heard petitions on police brutality, and has also investigated the Lekki tollgate incident.

Soldiers had stormed the tollgate where protesters had gathered on October 20, 2020 and fired shots, in what appeared to be an attempt to disperse the demonstrators.

Concluding the proceedings of the panel on Monday, Doris Okuwobi, chairperson of the panel, said 186 out of the 252 petitions submitted to the panel, were deliberated on by the panel.

Okuwobi said the petitions that have not been heard would be sent to the Lagos state ministry of justice for future consideration.

The retired judge added that the investigation on the Lekki incident has been completed and that the panel is currently working on its report, which will be submitted to the government.

“The Lekki investigation was completed and the panel is currently working on its report,” she said.

“For petitioners not concluded and those not taken, the files will be recommended in our report to be sent to the Lagos ministry of justice for the purpose of government consideration and whatever body that will be set up for the handling of human rights violation in Lagos state.

“In respect of Lekki investigations and individual petitions included, the panel will submit in its report the outcome of findings in respect to Lekki individual petitions and make necessary recommendations for compensation to be paid to the petitioners.

“I’m sure at the end of the panel, when the two reports are submitted, the government would declare what the findings of the panel are, publicly.”

In his remarks, Adesina Ogunlana, counsel representing #EndSARS protesters, suggested that the panel should create a day on which findings on the Lekki incident would be made public.

“In the spirit of openness and transparency, it would have been better if there is a little extension, not a general sitting; even if it is an executive summary of the findings,” he said.

“For the sake of these petitioners — restless youths — so that it would be open to them, it would be fair to be open.”

Reacting to Ogunlana’s comment, the retired judge said it is not the place of the panel to reveal its findings on the Lekki incident, adding that the government will do so.

“It is not in the panel’s place to share its findings publicly. The NEC that constituted the panel will be expecting to see the report and there is a procedure,” she said.

“After the report has been considered by the government, it would give the right way to make it public. There is no possibility of us commenting.”

The panel also awarded N148.2 million to 23 more victims of police brutality.

Below is a full list of the petitioners who received compensation:

Michael Owoicho — N10 million
Fatai Ogunseye — N10 million
Adela Rashidat — N700,000
Stella Edegwa — N500,000
Akapo Adekunle — N10 million
Mustapha Ramot — N10 million
Kufre Jackson — N5 million
Ikechukwu Iloamuzor — N10 million
Segun Adekoya — N1 million
Yusuf Oladipupo Omole — N10 million
Segun Ishola — N5 million
Julius Adeogun — N10 million
Family of late Okoronkwo Sylvester — N10 million
Titi Agnes — N10 million
M. A. Akaba — N500,000
Chukwudera — N4 million
Seun Bamgbose — N10 million
Abayomi likinyo — N4 million
James Arebha — N4 million
Juliana Adeoti —N1 million
Adaeze Oluwatosin — N2.5 million
Gabriel Ayoola Ayedungbe — N10 million
Yemi Abdul-Kareem — N10 million