Judicial panels of inquiry on police brutality and extrajudicial killings in 13 state governments have received 585 petitions against operatives of the disbanded Special Anti – Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police .
The states are Anambra , Akwa Ibom , Edo , Oyo , Cross River , Abia , Plateau , and Ondo .
Others are Osun, Bayelsa , Katsina , Ebonyi , and Gombe .
The judicial panels of inquiry were set up in the various states as part of the demands by the # EndSARS protesters seeking justice for victims of SARS brutality .
In Anambra State, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality , Extrajudicial Killings, and other Related Matters has received 114 petitions .
The panel chairman , VN Umeh , said any police officer and other persons named in any of the petitions would be invited to testify .
Also, the Akwa Ibom State Judicial Commission on EndSARS Protests said it had received 82 petitions .
The secretary to the panel , Mfon Edemekong , said the panel would begin its daily sitting on Monday , November 16 , 2020 .
In Edo State , the secretary to the state Judicial Panel of Inquiry , Joyce Ugbodaga, said 57 petitions had been received , adding that cops petitioned against would be summoned .
Fifty petitions have been received by the 11 -man Judicial Panel of Inquiry in Oyo State to investigate police brutality , human rights violations , and extrajudicial killings in the state .
Governor Seyi Makinde , who disclosed the figure during the week , urged victims of police brutality to come before the panel to seek redress .
Makinde mentioned that the cases of Isiaka Jimoh, who was shot dead in Ogbomoso on October 10 ; Ganiyu Moshood; as well as policemen killed by hoodlums during the # EndSARS
protests would be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators would be brought to justice .
Also, 54 petitions have been received by the Panel of Inquiry into Police Brutality and Restitution in Cross River State as of Friday .
This was made known on Friday during the sitting of the panel headed by retired Justice Michael Edem.
Likewise, the Abia State Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality , Extrajudicial Killings and Other Related Matters sitting in Umuahia , said it had 44 petitions at hand .
This was disclosed by the secretary of the panel and the Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Justice , Uzoamaka Ikonne .
Meanwhile, the Registrar of the Plateau State Judicial Panel of Inquiry Investigating Police Brutality and Other Related Killings, Mr Mark Mallan , told one of our correspondents on Friday that the panel had received 30 petitions .
Also, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Ondo State government to look into extrajudicial activities of men of the state police command said it had received 10 petitions .
The secretary to the panel , Mr Lanre Amuda , said on Friday that the panel would invite indicted policemen .
In Osun State , the Chairman of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry , retired Justice Akin Olademeji , said the panel had received five petitions so far.
By Saturday , after the panel ’s inaugural sitting, Oladimeji told reporters that more petitions had been received , though he did not disclose the new figure.
“ We had only three cases today and none of them was heard because they didn’ t give evidence to any of the cases . The lawyers sought adjournments , but in the special circumstances of the application , all the petitions had to be adjourned . So, we adjourned the petitions to other dates . Everyone must be given the opportunity to be heard . If there are special reasons for the cases to be adjourned , they must be adjourned ,” he said .
Also, the Bayelsa State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality has received about 20 petitions from members of the public .
The six -man panel , inaugurated by Governor Douye Diri on October 28 , is headed by retired Justice Young Ogola .
A member of the panel who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak on behalf of the panel , said sitting would commence on Wednesday .
Similarly , a member of the Katsina State Judicial Panel of Inquiry who spoke on condition of anonymity said the panel had received no fewer than 100 petitions .
The source said radio announcements would be made during the week with a view to encouraging more aggrieved residents to come and testify before the panel .
A former Chief Judge of Ebonyi State , Justice Aloy Nwankwo , who is the Chairman of the state Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Friday said the panel had received over 15 petitions from members of the public .
In Gombe State , the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions and the Secretary to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry , Abdulsalam Kumo, said the panel had only received three petitions since it was inaugurated.
Meanwhile, in Adamawa State , the secretary to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry , Suleiman Usman , could not immediately provide information on the number of petitions received so far .
The panel , headed by retired Justice Adamu Hobon, called on members of the public to submit their petitions as the panel would begin sitting on November 19 .
Similarly , the secretary to the Bauchi State Panel on Police Brutality , Sabiu Gumba , said no petition had been received by the panel as of Friday .
Also, the secretary to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry in Enugu State , Onochiengwu Obuna could not provide the figure of the number of petitions received so far, but said the panel would start sitting on November 16 . (Punch)