NHRC Announces Resumption Date For Panel On #EndSARS

By Ayodele Oni

Hope is rising, again, for victims whose complaints of maltreatment and torture by the disbanded police Special Anti Robbery Squad, (SARS) are yet to be heard as an Independent Investigative Panel constituted to hear such cases will resume sitting on March 1, 2022.

The news of the Panel’s resumption was disclosed on Monday in a statement by Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC), Fatimah Mohammed.

The Spokesperson explained that there were still several cases which the Commission was yet to hear.

“In its journey to restore human dignity, as well as hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable, the National Human Rights Commission has said the  Independent Investigative Panel on alleged human rights violation by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (IIP-SARS) will on Tuesday 1st of March 2022 continue its sitting.

“Although the Commission awarded monetary compensation to families and victims of police brutality in December 2022, as part of recommendations by the panel, there are several cases yet to be concluded.

“It would be recalled that 297 petitions were received across the country bothering on illegal arrest and detention, cruel inhuman and degrading treatment, extra-judicial killing, etc.

“Out of these cases, 25 were struck out, 12 were withdrawn, 1 was dismissed, 75 cases had panel decisions, and 20 cases were slated for monetary compensation which has since been awarded by the Commission.

“While the panel adjourned sine die due to lack of funding to continue with the remaining cases, the Commission was able to acquire some funds for the panel to continue sitting.

“The panel is expected to sit for an initial period of six weeks (with breaks at intervals) to hear a total of 92 cases. 29  general cases, 12 part-heard cases, and 51 cases involving judgment debts.

“The Commission is using this medium to seek the support and cooperation of the police and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that perpetrators of police brutality are made to face the wrath of the law.

“The IIP-SARS was set up by the Federal Government in November 2020, following the “ENDSARS Protest” which was triggered by nationwide allegations of Police brutality.

“A similar Panel established in 2018 and Chaired by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu SAN had earlier submitted its report to the president.

“The report contained far-reaching recommendations which led to some of the ongoing reforms in the Nigerian police.”