Barely one year after it commenced sittings, the Justice Doris Okuwobi-led Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters on Monday ended hearings.
During Monday’s sitting, the Judicial Panel awarded N128.2 million as compensations for 24 petitioners, who were victims of Police brutality, as well as families of people killed by the Nigeria Police, especially SARS.
The 28 petitioners were awarded N10 million, N5 million, N2.5 million, N1 million, N700,000 and N500,000 respectively based on the strength of their petitions.
The panel promised to submit its reports to the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Justice.
Justice Okuwobi (rtd) said Lagos State Government in line with the law setting up the Judicial Panel will make its findings and recommendations available to members of the public.
Speaking at the end of the panel sittings held at Lagos Court of Arbitration, Lekki, Justice Okuwobi said her panel will submit its findings and recommendations on Lekki shootings and Police-related abuses of the citizens to the Lagos State Government.
She said the two reports to be submitted by the Panel to Lagos State Government are on investigation on the October 20, 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shootings, during the #EndSARS protests hijacked by hoodlums and petitions on several abuses and killings by the Nigeria Police, especially the disbanded SARS.
Justice Okuwobi said the Judicial Panel, which started its sittings in October 2020, received 255 petitions from members of the public out of which 252 were considered for hearing.
She added that the panel was able to decide on 182 petitions while 52 were not treated due to time factors.
She said the 52 petitions that were not treated would be included in the Panel reports for necessary advice and actions to be taken by the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Justice.
Speaking to journalists, the Lead Counsel to Lagos State Government, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), said the Judicial Panel has healed the wounds of many victims of Police brutality and killings through the compensations awarded by the Justice Okuwobi-led panel.
He noted that apart from the compensations, the Judicial Panel through its ruling has also exonerated some victims from wrongdoings and defamation of character which, according to him, is bigger than the monetary compensations.
Speaking to journalists, a victim of Police harassment, Miss Samson Adaeze Oluwatosin, who was compensated by the Judicial Panel with N2.5 million, commended Lagos State Government for setting up the panel and for deeming it fit to compensate victims of Police brutality.
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