Sanwo-Olu Swears In Judicial Panel Chairman, Members Monday

 

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will on Monday swear in the chairman and members of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up to investigate cases of brutality and human rights violations committed by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the State.

 

The governor had last Thursday set up a seven-member Panel chaired by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi.

 

Members of the panel include: Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN (representing the Civil Society), Taiwo Lakanu (a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police), Ms Patience Udoh (representing the Civil Society), Mr. Segun Awosanya (Human Rights Activist), Mrs. Olutoyin Odusanya (Director, Lagos Citizens Mediation Center), as well as a representative of the youth-led protest and a representative of the Human Rights Commission.

 

Sanwo-Olu on Saturday held a closed-door meeting with the Judicial Panel chairman which was also attended by the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, and Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola.

The discussion at the meeting focused on improvement in the composition of the panel membership and expectations of members of the public in the discharge of the panel’s duties.

After the meeting, Justice Okuwobi declined to speak with journalists.

But, Gov. Sanwo-Olu said the meeting was necessary to intimate the panel chairman on new developments and expectations of the Government.

The Governor disclosed that the membership slot reserved for the youth had been increased to two, saying the move was to ensure young people, who are mostly the victims of SARS brutality, had strong voice and contributions in the panel’s activities.

Sanwo-Olu said: “The panel will commence its sitting next Monday after the official swearing-in of its members in Alausa. We expect members of the public who have complaints against SARS operatives will approach the panel and bring forward their claims.

“It is also important to mention that we have increased the expected nomination from the youth. At the announcement of the panel two days ago, we asked the youth to bring forward one representative. We have increased the youth representation to two.

“I understand there is a process which the youth are using to nominate their representatives, which is very good. We will be expecting them to forward the names of their nominees to us before Monday.

“We believe that the increment in youth representation will further enrich the composition of the panel and diversity of the panel’s recommendations.”

Sanwo-Olu said the help desk lines specifically created to reach the panel members would be opened for calls from Monday.

He urged members of the public who have valid cases of brutality, human rights violations and extra-judicial killings to approach the panel for justice and compensation.

 

The panel is expected to sit for six months with a mandated to thoroughly investigate all verifiable claims of abuses and fatalities arising from SARS engagement in the State, with the objective to bringing erring officers to justice and get compensation for the victims.

 

 

The State Government last week set up a help desk for public complaints and petitions to the panel.

 

Lagos residents, who have petitions against SARS, can reach the help desk on the numbers: 0901 051 3203, 0901 051 3204 and 0901 051 3205.