#EndSARS:Abiodun Constitutes Committees, Sets Up Forensic Lab, Complaints Portal

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun, has appointed Justice Solomon Olugbemi (rtd.) as Chairman of the Judicial Panel of Investigation on alleged cases of Police brutalities against citizens in the state.

The appointment was in line with the resolution of the National Economic Council at its meeting on Thursday.

The virtual meeting presided over by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo, with state governors participating directed each state governor in consultation with relevant Federal Agencies to take charge of interaction with #EndSARS protesters to address their legitimate concerns.

The National Economic Council (NEC) also directed each state to set up Victims Support Fund to “enable payment of monetary compensations to deserving victims” of such alleged brutalities.

The governors are also expected to set up special security and human rights committees as well as human rights complaint offices in their respective state.

Following these directives, Abiodun in a statement by his press secretary, Kunle Somorin gave the list of members of each of the committees and their mandates as follows:

Judicial Panel of Investigation: Hon. Justice Solomon Olugbemi (rtd) – chairman: Members , Comrade Olayinka Folarin, Chairman, Ogun State Coalition of Civil Societies, Ms Omonajevwe Janet Abiri, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), DIG Babatunde Ogunyanwo (rtd), Comrade AbdulJabar Ayelagbe, Chairman, National Youth Council, Ogun State Chapter, Comrade Bamgbose Tomiwa, NANS Chairman, Ogun State, Ms. Aisekegbe Momodu, National Human Rights Commission, Ogun State, Mrs. Oluwatosin T. Ogundele – Chief State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, will serve as Secretary

The committee is to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality, human rights violations or related extra-judicial killings; evaluate evidence presented and recommend compensation and other remedial measures, where appropriate.

Abiodun will head the special security and human rights committee as chairman, with heads of  security agencies in the state as members.

Babatunde Adeluola, Mrs. Peju Osoba of Child First Welfare International, and Comrade Obatungashe Israel Adebayo, Deputy National President, Campaign for Democracy (CD) are also members.

The committee is charged, among others, with the task of ensuring the protection of the rights of citizens by all security and law enforcement agencies; monitor the prosecution of any officer indicted by the Presidential Panel on Police Reforms and entertain complaints of human rights violations..

Also,  a seed fund of fifty million Naira has been set aside as start-up amount to enable payment of monetary compensation to deserving victims.

Furthermore, the state assures that it will invest in the continuous training of police officers on investigation best practices, community policing and intelligence gathering.

The statement added that Abiodun reiterated his government’s commitment to the protection of human lives and properties.

The governor appealed to protesters to bring an end to the protests and allow a return to normalcy to give room for the implementation of government interventions, especially as the federal government has acceded to their demands.