The Abuja #EndSARS panel probing allegations of human rights violations committed by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other units of the Nigeria Police, on Wednesday, awarded N289 million to 74 victims of police brutality.
The panel, which was led by a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Suleiman Galadima, awarded compensations, after it considered a total of 297 petitions that were brought before it by either victims or their family members.
The deceased victims’ families and survivors received dummy cheques as a mark of the awards during a ceremony held at the National Human Rights Commission headquarters in Abuja.
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The commission’s executive secretary, Anthony Ojukwu (SAN), who spoke at the ceremony said the government has acknowledged its mistakes and is ready to assuage the feelings of victims.
He said;
“The ceremony today is to tell you that we have acknowledged the violation of your rights and we are putting this forward in good faith to say we are sorry.
“The amount paid today will not solve all the problems but to ensure that where there is a violation of rights, there must be a remedy.”
The NHRC had in March 2021 set up the federal government’s panel of enquiry on police brutality in Abuja.
Secretary of the panel, Mr. Hillary Ogbonna, disclosed that allegations in the petitions that were determined, bordered on extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, cruel/degrading and inhumane treatment by police officers, prolonged detention, abuse of power, as well as non payment of judgement debts.
He further said that some of the victims died before the panel could conclude its investigations which spanned for a period of two years.
“It is quite unfortunate that some of the petitioners are no more. Some of them died within the last eight months.
“We are however making arrangements with their families and lawyers to ensure that they receive their compensations”, Ogbonna stated.
According to him;
“25 of the petitions bordered on extra-judicial killings, 4 of them was on enforced disappearance, 16 on illegal arrest and detention, 4 on illegal confiscation of assets, while 25 petitions bordered on inhumane and degrading treatment.
“The panel has also made recommendations on what should be done to some indicted police officers. The report will soon be submitted to the appropriate authorities”, Ogbonna added.
In his remark, Mr. Tony Ojukwu, SAN, said;
“The Commission laboured day and night to ensure that there is some sort of closure for the victims and their families and we thank President Muhammadu Buhari for making funds available for payment of compensation.
“This is a clear indication that we should not take the laws into our hands. The course of Justice may be slow, but surely we will get there and what happened today is an indication that Nigeria will be better.
“We have not gotten to where we want to be, but surely, we will get there.”
