Judiciary

Ogun EndSARS Panel Ends Sitting After Treating 58 Petitions

By Web News 570

Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Extra Judicial Killings has ended its sitting after treating fifty-eight petitions out of the submitted one hundred and six.

The chairman of the panel, Justice Solomon Olugbemi made this known at the Magistrate Court 1, Isabo, Abeokuta while speaking with newsmen.

He stated that during the six months exercise, the panel received one hundred and six petitions out of which fifty-eight were treated while forty-eight were withdrawn, rejected or abandoned.

Justice Olugbemi said some petitions were wholly abandoned, some abandoned half-way by the petitioners while some were rejected because the petitions were not in line with the terms of reference of the panel.

He assured that the panel’s report was ready for submission to the government.

The panel was inaugurated on nineteenth of October last year by Governor Dapo Abiodun and was given a six month period to receive and investigate petitions from members of the public whose human rights have been violated and abused by security personnel within the state and also to make appropriate recommendations to government.

Wale Oluokun

Judiciary

Abuse: Ogun Judicial Panel Chairman Advises Residents to Utilize Legal Means

By Web News 559

The Chairman of Ogun State Judicial Panel of Investigation on Police brutality, Justice Solomon Olugbemi has advised residents of the state to always use legal means available to seek redress whenever they feel cheated or abused by public officer.

The Chairman gave the advice at the sitting of the panel held at the Magistrate Court One, Isabo, Abeokuta.

Retired Justice Olugbemi while responding to a petitioner, Mr. Odupitan Daniel who brought a complaint against the police for allegedly charging him to Court without proper investigation, stated that the panel was to investigate complaints on Police brutality and not to prevent the police from carrying out their duties.

The chairman assured that the panel would give appropriate recommendations to the state government at the end of its sittings.

Wale Oluokun

Politics

Ogun Sets Up Committees To Address Police Brutality

By Web News 658

Governor Dapo Abiodun has set up three committees aimed at providing answers to the agitations of the youths protesting against police brutality in the state.

According to a statement made available by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Kunle Somorin in Abeokuta, while the governor appointed a retired Justice Solomon Olugbemi as the Chairman of the Judicial Panel of Investigation on alleged cases of Police brutalities against citizens of the state, the governor is to head the second committee on Special Security and Human Rights Committee while the third committee has Mr Joseph Ogunniyi of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ota branch as the Ombudsman.

The statement said the appointments were in line with the resolution of the National Economic Council at its last meeting.

The committees list include the Judicial Panel of Investigation which has Retired Justice Solomon Olugbemi as the Chairman, Comrade Olayinka Folarin member, Ms Omonajevwe Janet Abiri member and retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Babatunde Ogunyanwo as member.

Other members of the committee include Comrade AbdulJabar Ayelagbe, Comrade Bamgbose Tomiwa, Ms Aisekegbe Momodu and Mrs. Oluwatosin T. Ogundele that will serve as the secretary of the committee.

The term of reference of the committee include to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality, human rights violations or related extra-judicial killings; evaluate evidence presented and recommend compensation and other remedial measures, where appropriate.

The Special Security and Human Rights Committee has the governor, Prince Dapo Abidoun as chairman with Heads of the security agencies in the State as members.

Other members include Head of any special tactical unit of the Police in the State charged with fighting armed robbery and other violent crimes, Mr. Babatunde Adeluola, representing the youths, Mrs. Peju Osoba representing civil society and Comrade Obatungashe Israel Adebayo.

The terms of reference of the committee include the task of ensuring the protection of the rights of citizens by all security and law enforcement agencies; monitor the prosecution of any officer indicted by the Presidential Panel on Police Reforms and entertain complaints of human rights violations from the State’s Human Rights Complaints Office.

The third committee, Human Rights Complaints Office has Mr. Joseph Ogunniyi as the Ombudsman while other members include Mr. Bamidele Adebayo and Mr. Shodeinde Oluwaponmile.

The committee is to facilitate easy access of complainants to prompt attention and assistance and give regular reports to the Special Security and Human Rights Committee for action.

The governor also announced Victims’ Support Fund of Fifty Million Naira set aside as start-up amount to enable payment of monetary compensation to deserving victims.

Wale Oluokun