FG to arraign brutal officers, civilians involved in #ENDSARS protest
EMERGENCY DIGEST- The Federal Government said 11 out of 28 States that raised panels on last year’s #ENDSARS protest have submitted reports to the National Economic Council (NEC).
It said all those indicted by the various judicial commissions will face trial.
It also said all the victims of the #EndSARS riots will be compensated.
But each State shall establish modalities for the settlement of all monetary compensations.
The Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed gave the update at a briefing in Abuja on the first anniversary of the #EndSARS crisis.
Mohammed said: “At its meeting on 15 October 2021, the NEC received an update on the Reports of Judicial Panels of Inquiry into Allegations of Human Rights Violations against Members of Nigeria Police Force and other Security Agencies.
“Note that 28 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – under the auspices of the National Human Rights Commission – had set up Judicial Panels/Commissions of Inquiry to investigate allegations of violations of human rights levied against members of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, especially members of the disbanded SARS.
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“Out of the 28 States, 11 States (Abia, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Kwara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Plateau, and Rivers) have submitted their final reports to Council. Governors of other States have also indicated that their reports would be submitted soon.
“Following deliberations on the recommendations of the panels, NEC agreed/resolved as follows:
“Each State, in collaboration with the Federal Government, shall establish modalities for the settlement of all monetary compensations awarded by the Panels.
“Already, as resolved by NEC, a number of States have set up Victims Compensation Funds, from which several victims have already received payments of sums awarded to them by the panels.”
The Minister said the government will ensure the prosecution of indicted persons whether security personnel or civilians.
He added: “The Council directed State Governors to immediately forward copies of final reports of the panels to their Attorneys-General for prompt arraignment and prosecution of all indicted persons.
“Where incidents in the reports relate to matters of discipline, in addition to prosecution, NEC urged the Nigeria Police Force to take disciplinary action on the affected officers in line with the provisions of the Police Act 2020.”
Details shortly…
