The independent investigative panel on human right violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) has awarded compensations to 74 victims of police brutality, to the tune of about N289 million.
The panel, which was set up by the federal government, on Wednesday, September 14, awarded compensations after it considered a total of 297 petitions that were brought before it by either victims or their family members.
Secretary of the panel, Hillary Ogbonna, while speaking on Wednesday, disclosed that allegations in the petitions that were determined, bordered on extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances, cruel and inhumane treatment by police officers, prolonged detention, abuse of power, as well as non payment of judgement debts.
He decried that some of the victims died before the panel could conclude its investigations that spanned for a period of two years, according to The Punch.
Ogbonna stated that, “It is quite unfortunate that some of the petitioners are no more. Some of them died within the last eight months.
“We are however making arrangements with their families and lawyers to ensure that they receive their compensations.”
According to him, though 297 petitions were lodged before the panel, only 295 cases were successfully determined by the panel.
Ognonna said that, “25 of the petitions bordered on extra-judicial killings, four of them were on enforced disappearance, 16 on illegal arrest and detention, four on illegal confiscation of assets, while 25 petitions bordered on inhumane and degrading treatment.
“The panel has also made recommendations on what should be done to some indicted police officers.
“The report will soon be submitted to the appropriate authorities,” he added.
The executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in his remarks, Tony Ojukwu, said that he was delighted that the establishment was able to get justice for victims of police brutality.
Ojukwu stated that, “The commission laboured day and night to ensure that there is some sort of closure for the victims and their families and we thank President Muhammadu Buhari for making funds available for payment of compensation.
“This is a clear indication that we should not take the laws into our hands.
“The course of justice may be slow, but surely we will get there and what happened today is an indication that Nigeria will be better.
“We have not gotten to where we want to be, but surely, we will get there”, he added.
Recall that the Abuja panel which held its inaugural sitting in November 2020, had on December 23, 2021, equally awarded an aggregate sum of N146 million as compensation to 27 victims of police brutality in the country.
