#EndSARS: Sanwo-Olu Inaugurates Judicial Panel of Enquiry into SARS Abuses

Ololade Adeyanju/

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu today inaugurated the State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution to investigate cases of brutality and human rights violations committed by operatives of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The eight-member judicial panel is chaired by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi. The panel will be joined by two representatives of the youths.

Other members represent the human rights community, the Police and the state government.

Read the governor’s address at the ceremony below:

As we move to end police brutality, by virtue of Section 5 of Tribunals of Inquiry Law, Laws of Lagos State, 2015, I inaugurated an 8-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution which will receive and investigate complaints of police brutality in Lagos.

The panel will in the next 24 hours be joined by 2 youth representatives and a member of the National Human Rights Commission as we look to provide restitution while following due process.

In Lagos, beyond setting up this panel which we hope will serve as a representation of our broader interests, we have established a N200 million fund for compensation to families and individuals who have been victimized by officers of the disbanded SARS.

Orderly room trials of erring policemen resulting in dismissals, demotions and more severe punishment for human rights violations have begun.

We have also started engaging with protesters and all sides affected in all this.

We have witnessed the protests of our youth against police brutality. The pain of this generation has been felt in various parts of our state and country, as well as in the diaspora, all speaking with one voice against the unbridled violation of their rights and lives

I am on the side of the young people out there. I understand your pain and I know your concerns are legitimate.

I must reiterate that while we were able to immediately acquiesce to some of your demands, some will require time: we ask you to bear with us as we work on them.

I will like to renew my appeal to you to suspend the protests and create an atmosphere for the resolution of all pending demands.

I encourage everyone brutalized by the disbanded SARS including the families of those who have died to present their cases before this Panel.

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