Police Brutality: NEC Directs Govs To Set Up Judicial Panels Of Inquiry

The National Economic Council (NEC) has directed the State Governors to establish Judicial Panels of Inquiry to receive and investigate complaints of Police brutality or related extra-judicial killings with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other police units.

This is one of the major outcomes of Thursday’s NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

The Council specifically resolved that State Governors and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) should take charge of interface and contact with the protesters in their respective domains.

“At a meeting attended by State Governors, the Judicial Panels which would be set up in all the States would include representatives of youths, students, civil society organizations and would be chaired by a respected retired State High Court Judge,” said a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Vice President’s Office), Laolu Akande.

The NEC directed that the Judicial Panels of Inquiry should be chaired by a retired High Court Judge in each State, with other members selected by the State Governor as follows:

*Two representatives of Civil Society groups;

*One Retired Police Officer of high repute;

*One Youth Representative;

*One Student Representative;

*One Representative of the State Attorney-General, and

* A representative from the National Human Rights Commission.

The Council gave the terms of reference for the Judicial Panel to include –

* Receive and investigate complaints of Police brutality or related extra-judicial killings;

* Evaluate evidence presented/other surrounding circumstances, and draw conclusions as to the validity of the complaints; and

* Recommend compensation and other remedial measures, where appropriate.

The Panel’s assignment is to be concluded within a maximum of six (6) months, unless it shows convincing reasons why the State Governor should allow an extension.

The Council also directed the State Governors to immediately establish a State-based Special Security and Human Rights Committee to be chaired by the Governors in their States, to supervise the newly formed police tactical units and all other security agencies located in the State.

It explained that the idea of the Special Security and Human Rights Committee in all States of the Federation and the FCT is to ensure that police formations and other security agencies in the State consistently protect the Human Rights of citizens.

Members of the Special Committee are to include representatives of youths and civil society as well as the head of Police tactical units in each of the States.

The Council stated that there would also be Human Rights Complaints Team of between 2 to 3 persons to receive complaints on an ongoing basis. That team would be established by the Special Committee on Security and Human Rights.

It resolved that each State Government shall also set up such a Complaints Office to which members of the public can relate by telephone or social media channels.

It shall be the duty of the officers of the Complaints Office to liaise with the leadership of security agencies, attempt resolution of complaints or otherwise guide the complainants.

NEC further directed all State Governors to immediately establish a Victims Fund to enable the payment of monetary compensation to deserving victims.

At the NEC meeting, the Director General of the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, gave an update on Nigeria’s COVID-19 response efforts.

According to the COVID-19 report, States performance in testing declined in 18 States and improved in 19 others in September when compared to August.

The NCDC boss listed priority intervention areas as: strengthening States’ Health Security Architecture (Strong State Epidemiology team, Functional EOC, Functional Molecular Lab, Defined Treatment Centre, Response Vehicles, Communication equipment, Resources to deploy) and the establishment and sustenance of sample collection sites.

The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, also gave an update to the Council on the excess crude account, stabilisation account, and development of natural resources account.

He noted that excess crude account stood at $72,409,346.76 as at 14th October, 2020 while the balances in the stabilization account was N47,193,630,556.96.

The balances in the development of natural resources account stood at N154,330,148,020.34 ad at October 14, 2020.