Judicial Panel
#EndSARS: Ogun panel recommends payment of over N218 million to victims
Ogun Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has assured that he will implement the report of the State’s Judicial Panel of Investigation on Police Brutality and Extra Judicial Killings. The Governor who gave the assurance while receiving the report said its implementation was necessary towards having a peaceful society and engendering of a more robust relationship between the people and security agencies. Governor Abiodun who spoke on Friday appreciated the Panel members for their selfless efforts and contributions towards the successful completion of the task. “I believe that the implementation of this report will end the gory experience often encountered by residents of the State”, the Governor assured. The State’s helmsman added that it is important for all of us as a people and security agenci...
Rivers governor accuses predecessor of embezzling proceeds from aircraft, power projects
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, of embezzlement of proceeds from the sales of the state aircraft and power stations. The governor offered to resign from office if Amaechi could mention any federal project he has attracted to Rivers State as a minister since 2015. Governor Wike made the remarks at the formal defection of two former chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dr Davies Ikanya and Igo Aguma, as well as other chieftains of the opposition to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt on Saturday. The governor explained that Amaechi, the former governor, had claimed he sold a Dash 8 aircraft purchased by the administration of former Governor Dr Peter Odili to the Government of Cross River ...
#EndSARS: Lagos governor extends panel sittings by three months
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has extended the tenure of the state’s Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Related Abuses and Other Matters for another three months. This was disclosed on Tuesday by the panel headed by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi. With the extension the panel had been granted legal backing to six till July 19 instead of the initial deadline of April 19 in its terms of reference. The Lagos Judicial Panel was inaugurated by the Lagos State Governor on October 19 to among other things receive memoranda from concerned members of the public and inquire into cases of abuse, brutality, torture and extra judicial killings by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Lagos. Its terms of reference als...
#EndSARS: Ekiti compensates first batch of police brutality survivors
The Ekiti State government will on Monday present monetary compensation to the first batch of police brutality survivors as recommended by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Allegations of Human Rights Violations Against the Defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad and Others. The panel was set up in the state following a directive issued by the Presidency to state governments to review allegations of human rights violations against members of the public by officials of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad. This was after youths took to the street with the #EndSARS campaign to protest against police brutality as allegedly committed by operatives of the defunct SARS. The panel set up in Ekiti is led by Retired Justice Cornelius Akintayo and comprises representatives of youth groups, civil socie...
DJ Switch faults reopening of Lekki toll gate
Nigerian Disc Jockey, Catherine Udeh aka ‘DJ Switch,’ has kicked against the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS to hand over the Lekki toll plaza to its owner, the Lekki Concession Company LLC. Newsmen had reported that the Judicial panel gave the company the nod to take over the plaza on Saturday and with this approval, the Lekki toll gate will commence operations. Reacting to this development, DJ Switch who gave a live recording of the shooting of protesters at the toll on October 2020, took to her Twitter account to express her opinion of the panel’s decision. She wrote: “We cannot allow operations to begin at the Lekki Tollgate when justice has not prevailed! “This is wrong! I have always known 4m the start The panel trolls screame...
Lagos panel okays Lekki toll gate reopening
The Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State government to investigate the October 2020 Lekki shooting incident has approved the reopening of the Lekki Tollgate. The nine-man panel returned the control of the tollgate to the Lekki Concession Company, the operators, on Saturday. The company, through its counsel, had been praying the panel to allow it to take over the plaza for repair and insurance claims since December 2020. But the panel said the toll plaza could not be handed over as a forensic expert has been paid by the Lagos state government to examine the toll gate with respect of the October 20 shooting incident. The prayer of the LCC was answered on Thursday when the panel gave the company access to reopen the toll gate. The report of the forensic examination, which was m...
Delta government approves Kwale industrial park
Delta State Government held its first Executive Council (EXCO) meeting of the year at Government House, Asaba, weekend, announcing the approval of key infrastructural projects, including the full establishment of the Kwale Industrial Park in Ndokwa West. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, disclosed these while briefing newsman on resolutions at the meeting presided by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. Aniagwu said approval was given for the establishment of the multi-billion-naira Kwale Industrial Park with 25 per cent equity for the state government, while private operators would hold the remaining 75 per cent equity. He stated that the approval was a boost to the industrial park, the process of which establishment was slowed down by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic last year. ...
Lekki shootings: Nigerian Army legal team submits report to General Buratai
The legal team set up by the Nigerian Army to represent the service at the ongoing Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the alleged shooting of protesters at the Lekki Tollgate has submitted its report to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai. The team, led by Akinlolu Kehinde, said the Nigerian Army was not under any form of trial over the alleged shooting at the Lekki Tollgate. The team has as members, the Director Legal Services of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General M.U. Wambai, Samuel Agweh, Biola Oyebanji and Colonel Michael Ede. The report was received by the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP), Lt-Gen Lamidi Adeosun, who represented the COAS. Presenting the five-page report, Kehinde said: “I want it to be clear that at no point in time was the Nigerian Army summon...
Lekki shooting: CCTV stopped recording after 8pm – LCC chief
Lekki Concession Company (LCC) has said that CCTV cameras at Lekki Tollgate stopped working at 8p.m. on Oct. 20, the day military men alleged shot at unarmed #EndSARS protesters. Managing Director of LCC, Mr Abayomi Omomuwasi, made the disclosure while testifying during proceedings of Lagos #EndSARS Judicial Panel on Tuesday. Led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr Rotimi Seriki, Omomuwasi said that the cameras stopped working due to network issues. “We never tampered with the surveillance camera, that is why we have footage until 8 p.m. when it stopped recording. “It was around 8.p.m. that we did not get any CCTV recording. It stopped recording because of network issues with the system. “The major cause is that we have the network that connects our cameras together at Ikoyi Link Bridge, Chevron...
Polygraph lie detector will help curb crime in Nigeria – expert
Nigeria’s judicial panel, especially the ongoing process set up by the Federal and some states governments to look into the recent police brutality and Lekki shooting, will receive a major boost if the government would embrace the Polygraph Lie Detector Device System. A security expert, Paul Ibirogba, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Hogan Guards Security Limited, stated this in Lagos at the inauguration of the Hogan Polygraph and Investigations Limited. He said polygraph lie detector has become an entrenched tool in advanced countries to enhance criminal investigations procedures and for recruitment into armed forces. According to him, the device is also used to measure and record several physiological indicators such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration and skin conductivity. ...
#EndSARS: Ekiti panel receiving petitions ahead of November 2 sitting
The Ekiti State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the Allegations of Human Rights Violations Against the Police, defunct SARS officers and other Persons has commenced its activities with a call on citizens of the State to start submitting petitions ahead of its November 2 inaugural sitting. The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Olawale Fapohunda, disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti on Monday while giving an update on activities of the Judicial Panel. He said the panel had liberalised the process of filing petitions that will make it convenient for anyone from any part of the state to file their petitions without going through any form of stress. The Attorney-General explained that the partnership with various institutions and individuals was to ensure that everyone whose rights ha...
