Judiciary

Osun Judicial Panel of Inquiry: Parents of Slain youth Demand Justice

By Web News 576

The parents of the late Idris Ajibola who was allegedly chased to death by yet-to-be-identified police officers are seeking justice so as to serve as a deterrent to erring security officers in the country.

The parents of the deceased said this as the Osun Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Related Extra Judicial Killings.

Mrs Titilayo Ajibola, mother of the deceased while addressing journalists after she tendered some documents as exhibits through her counsel before the panel, insisted that the Police and other concerned authorities must fish out the killers of her son and pay the family a sum of N5billion as compensation.

Mr. Kehinde and Mrs. Titilayo Ajibola, parents of the deceased, had approached the panel to seek justice for the killing of their son.

Addressing journalists after the hearing of the petition, the counsel to the petitioners, Barrister Kanmi Ajibola, said the parents insisted on the payment of N5billion as compensation in order to teach police an unforgettable lesson, let the officers and men of the Force bear the brunt of their brutality and to serve as a deterrent to other erring officers.

Mr Ajibola said the outcome and recommendation of the panel would determine the next line of action on the case.

The Panel adjourned the Ajibola case to 19th of February for further hearing.

Wasiu Ajadosu

Judiciary

#EndSARS: Osun Panel Chairman Assures Justice for All Petitions

By Web News 681

The Osun State panel of Inquiry investigating police brutality has charged the media covering its proceedings not to further fuel ember of disunity between the Police and public.

Chairman of the Panel, Retired Justice Akin Oladimeji gave the charge at the inaugural sitting of the panel in Osogbo.

Retired Justice Oladimeji noted that the police would always remain an indispensable institution in any modern society no matter how bad the situation is.

He cautioned counsels against what he described as unwarranted and frivolous applications for adjournments insisting that any application for adjournments would only be granted in compelling circumstances considering the fact that the panel has only 6 months to conclude its mandate.

The Retired Jurist was particular about the female gender as he appealed to them to come out of their shell and present petitions.

The panel Chairman who noted that members of his team were not angels, that sees the heart of a man, charged all petitioners to present their cases truthfully and with the required facts.

Justice Oladimeji promised that the panel would do nothing but justice to all the petitions brought before it.

Shortly after the inaugural speech, the panel went straight to attend to petitions already submitted before it.

The petitioners who alleged varying Degrees of brutality from maiming to outright killing asked the panel for hundreds of millions of Naira as compensation for damages they suffered in the hands of the defunct Police Special Anti Robbery Squad.

However, the Commissioner of police who was the defendants in all the cases was neither represented by any of his men or a Lawyer.

On the sideline of the proceedings, one of the counsels, Mr Fatai Ajani told Radio Nigeria that the chairman of the panel was a man of impeccable character and would do justice to the petitions.

So far, only six petitions have been presented to the panel.

Its sittings will hold on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Adenitan Akionla

Security

Gov Fayemi Extends Curfew, Inaugurates Judicial Panel

By Web News 670

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has extended the ongoing curfew imposed across the state till Monday next week.

Governor Kayode Fayemi announced this in Ado Ekiti while inaugurating members of the state’s Judicial Panel of Enquiry into allegations of human rights violations against operatives of the disbanded Special Anti- Robbery Squad, SARS.

Governor Fayemi explained that the extension of the curfew might be restricted to some troubled areas and was not aimed at abusing the rights of citizens but to secure the lives of the people. 

He said government would not allow police brutality in the state, hence the setting up of the panel to receive and investigate complaints from families of victims of human rights abuses by the operatives of the disbanded SARS.

Governor Fayemi directed the panel to recommend appropriate sanctions for personnel involved and compensation for victims of police brutality.

He apologised to genuine #ENDSARS protesters in the state over the recent public disturbance which led to imposition of curfew across Ekiti.

The governor asked those with incidences of police brutality in the state to make themselves available before the panel for it to evaluate and ascertain the validity of their evidences for necessary action..

Responding, Chairman of the Judicial Panel, Retired Justice Cornelius Akintayo thanked the governor for the opportunity given them to serve, promising that they would do the assignment objectively.

The ten member panel which has six months to conclude its assignment was asked to provide monthly report of its activities to the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

 Meanwhile, normalcy is gradually returning to Ado-Ekiti after witnessing civil disturbances for past few days following the violence that greeted the “EndSARSProtest” in the state capital.

Radio Nigeria Correspondent who visited some areas within Ado-Ekiti metropolise including Odo-Ado, Ijigbo, Mugbagba, Old Garage and Okeyinmi, described the situation as calm.

The curfew announced by Ekiti State Government was not observed as many people were seen moving freely, commercial drivers and motorcyclists were conveying people to their various destinations unhindered.

Virtually all shops in the areas visited were opened for business, while traders at ‘Oja Oba’ were carrying out their business activities without any hindrance.

Tope