#EndSARS Protest: FG Panel Indicts 72 Police Officers, Recommends Prosecution Of 28

…As Human Rights Commission Vows To Implement Report

The Independent Investigative Panel on human rights violations against SARS and other units of the Police (IIP-SARS) set up the the Federal government after the nationwide #EndSARS protest in October 2020 has indicted 72 police Personnel and recommended that while 25 of them should be dismissed, 28 should be prosecuted.

Further, the panel recommended that while 15 officers should face disciplinary actions, the ranks of four others should be reduced.

It would be recalled that the nationwide #EndSARS protests was triggered by the excesses of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad in October 20, 2020.

Presenting the reports to the governing council of the National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday, the Panel Chairman, Justice Suleiman Galadima, disclosed that the panel made decisions on a total of 295 petitions received during it’s sittings.

Giving the breakdown, he said that the IIP-SARS fully decided petitions were 95, withdrawn petitions were 54, struck out petitions were 33, refered petitions to the NHRC were 57 and while judgement debt petitions were 56.

He explained that some petitioners voluntarily withdrew their petitions either due to treats to them or that the just decided to let go, while some petitions were struck out because it was either frivolous or had no relevance to the scope of the panel.

He recalled that a total of N438, 884, 094 worth of compensations were paid to some victims of either extra-judicial killings (29 petitioners) N219, 860,000; Enforced disappearance (7 petitioners) N52, 550,000; Unlawful arrest and detention (9 petitioners) N27, 000,000; Torture, Cruel, Inhuman and degrading treatment (30 petitioners) N82, 474, 093.7; Threat to life (6 petitioners) N22, 500,000; confescation/seizure of property (6 petitioners) N27, 500, 000 and abuse of office (3 petitioners) N7, 000,000.

Receiving the report on behalf of the NHRC governing council and board Chairperson, Dr. Salamatu Husseni Sulaiman, the NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, noted that with the submission of the report, the panel’s assignment has come to a close.

He however, said the payment of compensations is just one step in the road to Justice adding that “there is still need to hold indicted officers of the Nigerian Police accountable for these violations”

He assured that the Commission will ensure that the recommendations of the panel will be implemented.