- Panel not a trial of police force but for Justice – AG
Ekiti State Judicial Panel of inquiry, into allegations of human right violation against Police officers including members of the disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) operatives and other persons commenced its sitting on Monday with an assurance to be independent, truthful and fair to all parties concerned.
The Chairman of the Panel, Justice Cornelius Akintayo (Rtd), gave the assurance at the first open sitting of the Panel at Adetiloye Hall, Ado Ekiti. He said the rules of fair hearing would be employed in engaging the plaintiffs and defendants in the course of the panel sitting.
Justice Akintayo said necessary machineries have been put in place to accommodate all petitioners without prejudice adding that interpreters would be available to support petitioners with official language barrier.
The sitting of the panel, which had in attendance representatives of the youth, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), National Council of Women Society, Civil Society Organisations, members of the State Security Network, (Amotekun), lawyers and journalists,
according to the Chairman, would concentrate on getting to the roots of every complaint presented before it.
”We will observe all the rules of fair hearing, there is no way you will hear one side and give your judgement. We must invite the person who has been alleged to have committed a crime or who have been alleged to have breached the fundamental human rights of individuals.
“This is a fact finding panel, so we must concentrate on getting to the root of every complaint that is brought before us. Without the fact we cannot manufacture evidence by ourselves, so we must be patient and invite all parties necessary to come and give evidence.
“We will look at each and every case on merit. Where people have been sentenced to death or where other things have happened in the past will be part of our record and we will consider that for the purpose of our obligations.” He added.
Also the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda in his address, stressed that the essence of the panel was not to put Nigeria Police on trial or make inquisition into the Nigeria Police Force as institution but to provide justice for all including the police officers who also suffered violence during the ENDSARS protest.
Fapohunda disclosed that the State Ministry for Justice has made provision for free counsel and legal services for indigent complainers during the sitting of the panel.
He explained that the State Government has simplified the process of accessing justice through the ministry to guarantee justice for everyone across the length and breath of the State.
According to him, Governor Kayode Fayemi has instructed all information disseminating institutions in the State to give the activities of the panel wide coverage to enhance knowledge and understanding of the working of the panel by members of the public.
He said,”The State Government is aware of the public expectation of this panel. The work of this panel has been made a lot easier by the desire of our people to get immediate justice not only for human rights violation of the present but those of the past and in some cases dating back a decade ago.
Even in the face of the enormity of this expectation the State Government is determined to ensure that as many as appear before this panel get justice.
“It is my expectation that this panel will facilitate a long overdue dialogue and interaction between our youth population as well as government and non government institutions.
“The state Government has deliberately proposed the unique terms of reference for the consideration of this panel, the recognition that victims of police abuse, including abuse from the now disbanded SARS, this is without prejudice to the right of police officers some of who themselves have been victims of violence.
“My Lord, let me state for the purpose of emphasis that the Nigeria Police is not on trial in this panel, indeed this is not an inquisition into the Nigeria Police as an institution. Our focus is to seek justice and necessary remedial measures for all our people who had suffered injustice and violence and hold perpetrators to account.
“The state Government has taken a number of measures to enhance the working of this panel, Mr Governor has deplored the entire message transmitting institution in the State to inform our people about the existence of this panel, the ministry of justice is waiting and ready to take over and prosecute matters that may be referred for prosecution and compensation.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Police, Babatunde Mobayo who noted that the setting up of the panel would complement efforts of the police Force at enforcing discipline among its officers, said his command would provide all the necessary tools that would hasten the assignment of the panel as he may be demanded to do.
Various representatives present at the sitting urged the panel to be independent in their modus operandi and get justice and compensation for those who suffered impairment or other forms of injuries as a result of brutality.