By Eseoghene Emuke
Delta State Government has finally released the report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality and other related human rights abuses ahead of the one anniversary of #EndSARS on October 20.
The Government, according to the report released on Tuesday, accepted to pay what it described as “incidental claims” of N102,450,000.00 (One hundred and two million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira) to victims of police brutality in the state.
It said the compensation would be paid to victims in due course.
In a statement signed by the Secretary to State Government, Chief Patrick Ukah, disclosed that the panel received 86 petitions during her sittings in Warri and Asaba.
Ukah said the beneficiaries were confirmed acts of police brutality resulting in death or denial of personal liberty by police operatives.
It added that the panel also upheld judgements on police brutality by State High Courts which the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Police Command had not complied with.
“Delta State Government wishes to inform all Deltans and residents of the State that Government has received and considered the Report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry that was constituted to receive and enquire into complaints of Police brutality and related extra-judicial killings in the State.
“The Panel which was inaugurated in October, 2020 received a total of 86 petitions for which it conducted Public Hearings in Asaba and Warri with full legal representation for all parties.
“It is worthy of mention that the Panel was not able to make recommendations on the entire petitions received by it, as some of these petitions are currently pending in various courts in the State. Hence making pronouncements on them would be sub-judice. In addition, some of the petitions were struck out by the Panel during the Hearing sessions for various reasons.
“More importantly, the Panel was able to establish acts of police brutality in some cases, resulting in death or denial of personal liberty and accordingly awarded monetary compensation for the victims in these cases.
“In the same vein, the Panel upheld judgements earlier delivered by High Courts in the State for various cases of police brutality, which judgements have not been complied with till date, including payment of Judgement debts associated with them.
“The State Government having considered the Panel’s recommendations in these two categories of cases has accepted to pay the incidental claims recommended for the victims, amounting to the sum of N102,450,000.00 (One hundred and two million, four hundred and fifty thousand naira). This payment would be effected in due course”, the report said.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Government has constituted a Human Rights Protection Committee with the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as chairman.
The committee has the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Youths, Commissioner for Police, Harrison Gwamnishu (representing the youths), Israel Joe (representing Civil Society Organizations) and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice as members.
“Another variant of the petitions received by the Panel were thirty (30) petitions which required that the Commissioner of Police in the State carry out investigations to ascertain the circumstance of death of some persons in police custody.
“The inquiry will also entail the investigation of policemen identified to be involved in various acts of brutality. It is the expectation that at the completion of the investigation, the case files would be forwarded to the Attorney-General of Delta State for legal advice and possible prosecution of the policemen involved.
“Furthermore, Government has accepted the recommendation of the Panel for the setting up of a Human Rights Public Complaints Committee to be headed by His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State and which will ensure that police officers respect the rights of citizens during their operations. This committee will be inaugurated on Wednesday, 20th October, 2021.
“Moreover, the State Government is working with the office of His Excellency, the Vice President and the National Economic Council (NEC) to ensure that other recommendations of the Judicial Panel which border on the operational modalities of the Nigeria Police are implemented appropriately and timeously.
“With the consideration of the Report of the Judicial Panel as explained in the foregoing paragraphs, Deltans and fellow citizens are hereby assured that policing in Delta State will take a more civil course going forward. Deltans and fellow citizen are hereby enjoined to embrace this commitment in a new social partnership for the greater good of our state and nation”, it further stated.
