* Panel ends sitting, awards N410m to 70 victims of police brutality
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has conceded that protest is the legitimate right of every Nigerian citizen.
Odumosu’s stance comes as youths mobilize to mark the first anniversary of #EndSARS protests on October 20.
Indeed Odumosu made a detour from his earlier warning against any gathering or organisation of protest in the State.
He was monitoring the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) State congress election in Lagos, during which occasion Odumosu described protests as a right the citizens are entitled to.
He assured that the State Police Command would be ready to protect protesters.
Odumsu had earlier warned thus: ““The police in the State will not fold their arms and allow some misguided elements disrupt the peace and serenity currently being enjoyed in the State.
“To forestall breakdown of law and order, the police will use all legitimate means within their constitutional powers to suppress the planned protest…”
Now he say: “The police only want the organisers of such protests to work together and have a meeting point”.
He continued: “If you want to protest, it is your right under the law but you don’t have to block the road because, in the process of obstructing the road, you are no longer protesting for a better life for people.
“However, what happens to pregnant women in an emergency, what happens to collapsed buildings, fire incidents when the roads are blocked?
“Don’t forget that this is Lagos, it is the economy of the country and it is equally a working day and you can imagine those lives that earn their living on a daily basis.
“There are some people that cannot feed their families when protesters block the road definitely.”
The commissioner appealed to the #EndSARS protesters to give the police adequate information to ensure their protection and free flow of traffic.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Judicial Panel on restitution for victims of SARS-related abuses and other matters has held its valedictory sitting after 131 proceedings.
Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, who read out the decisions of the panel on Monday, announced the award of N148.2 million to 23 deserving petitioners.
They include Michael Owoicho – N10 million, Fatai Ogunseye (late) – N10 million, Adeola Mukaila – N700,000, Stella Edegwa – N500,000, Akapo Adekunle – N10 million, Mustapha Ramot – N10 million, Kufre Jackson – N5 million, Ikechukwu Iloamuzor (late) – N10 million, Segun Adekoya (unlawful arrest by the police) – N1 million, Yusuf Omole – N10 million, and Segun Ishola (injuries sustained from gunshot) – N5 million.
Others are Mr and Mrs Julius Adeogun – N10 million, Okoronkwo Sylvester (late) – N10 million, Titi Agnes – N10 million, Prince Akaba – N500,000, Chukwudera Uba – N4 million, Seun Bamgbose – N10 million, Abayomi Likinyo – N4 million, James Arebha – N4 million, Juliana Adeoti – N1 million, Adaeze Samson – N2.5 million, Yemi Abdulkareem – N10 million, and Gabriel Ayedungbe – N10 million.
As a result, the panel has now awarded a total of N410 million to 70 victims.
Justice Okuwobi also revealed that the panel has concluded its investigations into the shooting at the Lekki tollgate – one of the venues of the #EndSARS protests in Lagos.
She, however, stated that the panel was working on its report which would be submitted to the state government which was expected to declare the report publicly.
The panel assured petitioners that its recommendations would include compensation to victims of the Lekki tollgate incident if any was identified.
According to the chairman, recommendations will also be made for policemen who were victims of the #EndSARS protests held in 2020.
She added that petitions that have been partly heard, and those that were not concluded or heard would be sent to the supervising Lagos State Ministry of Justice, which may set up a human rights body to handle them.
The judicial panel set up by the state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on October 19, 2020, was mandated to investigate cases of brutality and human rights abuses by the Police and its disbanded tactical unit.
On October 19, 2020, the Lagos State government inaugurated a nine-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry to investigate cases of brutality and human rights violations perpetrated by the police and operatives of the dissolved Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The panel was also saddled with the investigation of the alleged shooting of protesters by the Nigerian Army on October 20, 2020, at the Lekki toll plaza.
It received 235 petitions between October and December 2020, while only 14 petitions were submitted on the alleged Lekki shooting incident.