On Tuesday, the Nigerian Police’s Impartial Investigation Team on Human Rights Violations in Abuja, against SARS and different models, submitted its report to the National Human Rights Commission with strong recommendations and penalties.
In its recommendations, the group found 72 police officers responsible for the charges against them.
While 28 of them were useful for prosecution, 25 were useful for dismissal, 15 for disciplinary action and four for demotion, the report said.
Throughout the reporting process to the National Human Rights Commission, IIP-HRV-A-SARS Chairman and retired Supreme Court Justice Justice Suleiman Galadima said the panel had heard cases from 29 states since 29 years. Over 200 petitions. Its inauguration two years ago.
Justice Suleiman called on federal authorities to take a fundamental view of the report to implement its recommendations, while Justice Suleiman called on the NHRC to unify all the various experiences submitted to it for additional transmission to federal authorities for implementation.
Tony Ojukwu, NHRC government secretary and SAN chief, said the fee would not be eased until impunity was completely eliminated in Nigeria.
He also said that the National Human Rights Commission will ensure that the recommendations of the expert group are implemented.
In his response, reparation for costs and holding indicted Nigerian police officers accountable for violations of individual rights are major steps on the road to justice.
“I welcome the selection and indictment issued by the Galadima Panel of Judges and I need to assure Nigerians and victims and their families that the National Human Rights Commission will do everything possible to ensure that the selection is applied.
“We will work with the police, relevant committees of the National Conference, civil society and improvement partners to implement the expert group’s recommendations on police reform to ensure effective and human rights-centred policing,” Ojukwu said.
He said the efforts of Nigerian youth in the #EndSARS protests will not be in vain.
Hilary Ogbonna, the panel’s secretary, said in a fact sheet for the report that the committee received 295 petitions on police brutality from 29 states in the federation, with Abuja having the highest number with 123 petition.
Ogbonna said the petition’s topics are illegal de-escalation, racketeering, police harassment and intimidation, unlawful seizure of property, disobedience to court records orders, denial of access to justice, workplace abuse and enforced disappearances.
The different areas include danger to life, unlawful arrest and detention, non-payment of judgments, ruthless, inhuman and degrading treatment, and violation of the correctness of life.
Clinton said full N438, 884, 094 had been paid to victims of police brutality, while 54 petitions previously filed by the panel were withdrawn due to police harassment, intimidation and threats to victims’ lives.