The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led Lagos State Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other Matters has ended its sitting with the disclosure that it awarded the sum of N128.2 million as compensations to victims of police brutalities and others who suffered injuries from security operatives attacks.
The panel, according to its chairman, received 255 petitions from members of the public out of which 252 were considered for hearing, adding that the panel during its sittings was able to decide on 182 petitions while 52 were not treated due to time factors.
The retired Justice Doris Okuwobi panel, which sat for 12 months, was inaugurated to unravel the alleged killings of the #EndSARS protesters by soldiers in October 2020 at Lekki, Lagos as well as dealing with past atrocities committed by the police.
According to Justice Okuwobi at the sittings, the state government, in line with the laws setting up the Judicial Panel, will make its findings and recommendations available to members of the public as stated in the two reports to be submitted by the panel.
She noted that the reports will soon be submitted to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice for onward transmission to the state government.
Speaking on the award of compensations, Justice Okuwobi stated the Judicial Panel awarded N128.2 millions as compensations to 24 petitioners who were victims of police brutality as well as families of people killed by the Nigeria Police Force, especially SARS.
She stated, “based on the merit in the petitions of the 24 petitioners, they were awarded N10 million, N5 million, N2.5million, N1 million, N700,000 and N500,000 respectively base on the strength of their petitions.”
At the concluding session, the panel which had its sittings at Lagos Court of Arbitration, Lekki, will submit findings and recommendations on Lekki shootings and Nigeria Police related abuses of the citizens to the Lagos State Government, Which is on investigation of the October 20, 2020 Lekki Toll Gate shootings during the EndSARS protests hijacked by hoodlums and petitions on several abuses and killings by the Nigerian Police, particullally the disbanded SARS.
According to Justice Okuwobi, the 52 petitions unattended to would be included in the Panel’s reports for necessary advice and actions to be taken by the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Justice.
Lead Counsel to Lagos State Government, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), said the Judicial Panel has healed the wounds of many victims of Police brutality and killings through the compensations awarded by the Justice Okuwobi-led panel.
He noted that apart from the compensations, the Judicial Panel through its ruling has also exonerated some victims from wrong doings and defamation of character, which according to him is even more bigger than the monetary compensations.
A victim of police harassment, Miss Samson Adaeze Oluwatosin, who was compensated by the Judicial Panel with N2.5m, commended the Lagos State Government for setting up the panel and for deeming it fit to compensate victims of police brutality.
