The Osun Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Related Extra Judicial Killings, on Friday, said it had received 30 petitions so far.
The Panel reiterated its commitment to ensuring fair hearing and justice in all the petitions received within the stipulated time frame of six months.
This is just as the Chairman of the Panel, Justice Akinwale David Oladimeji, berated the attitude and misconduct of some officers and men of Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Addressing journalists shortly after the hearings, Justice Oladimeji said the evidence gathered so far show that police are the cog in the wheel of Nigeria’s progress.
Oladimeji said it was unfortunate that most of the cases received were premised on the non- execution and non-implementation of court verdicts against police.
He said: “A lot of things have been exposed about the conduct and activity of the Nigeria Police.
“From the evidence we have gathered so far, it appears that it is some of the Police officers and men that are the cog in the wheel of progress of this country; that is my belief”.
Speaking on the proceedings so far, the Chairman of the Panel maintained that 30 petitions had been received and some cases have been concluded while others were being carefully considered to ensure fairness.
Oladimeji reafirmed the panel’s commitment to justice within the period allocated to conclude all the hearings of all the petitions and cases before it.
“We have been receiving petitions and we have about 30 cases. Though we have resolved some of the cases, there won’t be any report until we conclude all the proceedings.
“Generally, there has never been any delay except in a few cases. As you know, either the lawyer or petitioner can cause some delay because sometimes, they write letters for adjournments.
“We are used to that anyway, and we know how to handle such cases. The six months period will be sufficient. We have been in this business for years and we know how to manage lawyers.
“If it requires us to work extra time, we will do so. We will not hesitate to conclude the hearings within the stipulated period because we don’t want any extension of time”, Oladimeji added.
One of the petitioners, Elder Joseph Adekola Oluyide, said the hopes of the petitioners rest heavily on the justice expected from the panel.
Oluyide who petitioned the police through the panel for the gruesome killing of his brother expressed satisfaction in the way and manner the panel has been conducting itself to ensure fair hearing and justice for all the parties.
He commended the administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for adhering strictly to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to set up the panel, an action which he said had rekindled his hope to receive justice.
“I am here to seek justice for the killing of my brother, Barrister Elijah Adeyemi, who was gruesomely murdered by a police officer along Lagere in Ile-Ife in 1993.
“We had requested the then Governor to set up panel of inquiry to investigate the misconduct, but it is unfortunate that nothing was done. But now that the panel of inquiry has been set up, we feel that it is time to take the matter up. That is why we have come here.
“As a matter of fact, I am satisfied with the proceedings so far because both the petitioners and the respondents were given fair hearing, and with this, we are confident of justice”, Oluyide added.
The five petitions heard on Friday by the Panel are: OS/JPIPB/008/2020 Adegboyega Agbaje & IOR versus Osun State Commissioner of Police; OS/JPIPB/003/2020 Oluyide Joseph Adekola versus Osun State Commissioner of Police OS/JPIPB/004/2020 Azeez Oderinde versus Osun State Commissioner of Police; OS/JPIPB/22/2020 Wasiu Jimoh versus Osun State Commissioner of Police; and OS/JPIPB/23/2020 Taiwo Segun & IOR versus Osun State Commissioner of Police.
