Panel Asks Abia To Pay N511m Compensation To Victims Of Police Brutality

All verified victims of police brutality and inhuman treatment
in Abia State would be paid over N511 million as compensation,
subject to approval of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The monetary compensation was part of the recommendations
contained in a five-volume report of the Abia State Judicial Panel
of Enquiry on Police Brutality, Extra-judicial Killings and other
Related Matters after eight months of investigations.

Receiving the report from the chairman of the panel, Justice
Sunday Imo (rtd), the Abia governor, who was represented by the
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chris Ezem, said that
government would “clinically study the report” before
implementation.

He lauded the Panel for rendering “historic and selfless
services to their fatherland”, adding that the report would serve
as a guide to the public on how best to relate with the police and
other security agencies.

The Abia chief executive stated that the security institutions
need the support and cooperation of citizens to function
effectively and excel in their duties.

Earlier, the chairman of the panel, Justice Imo (rtd), who is a
former chief judge of Abia, explained that the first volume of the
report contains the main report while the second volume contains
all the petitions with volume three has the records and proceedings
of the Panel.

He further noted that fourth volume centred on findings and
recommendations of the panel while the last volume contains case
files, exhibits, among others.

Justice Imo said that the panel received 86 cases/petitions out
of which 46 went through full hearing while the remaining cases
were dismissed or struck out.

The 21- member panel was inaugurated by Governor Ikpeazu on
October 23, 2020 with a charge to expeditiously treat cases of
police brutality from 2015 till date. It was in response to the
aftermath of the #EndSARS nation-wide protests organised by youths
against police brutally.

The proceedings of the panel were replete with gory tales of
blood, tears, brutality, rights abuses and cases of missing persons
in the hands of the police and other security agencies without
trace till date.

Some of the panel members include Bishop Sunday Onuoha, Mr.
Iheonu Chionye, Mr. Nwaojigba Darlington, Engr Daniel Chinago,
Comrade John Emejor, while the permanent secretary, ministry of
justice, Mrs. Uche Ikonne served as secretary.

All verified victims of police brutality and inhuman treatment
in Abia State would be paid over N511 million as compensation,
subject to approval of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The monetary compensation was part of the recommendations
contained in a five-volume report of the Abia State Judicial Panel
of Enquiry on Police Brutality, Extra-judicial Killings and other
Related Matters after eight months of investigations.

Receiving the report from the chairman of the panel, Justice
Sunday Imo (rtd), the Abia governor, who was represented by the
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Chris Ezem, said that
government would “clinically study the report” before
implementation.

He lauded the Panel for rendering “historic and selfless
services to their fatherland”, adding that the report would serve
as a guide to the public on how best to relate with the police and
other security agencies.

The Abia chief executive stated that the security institutions
need the support and cooperation of citizens to function
effectively and excel in their duties.

Earlier, the chairman of the panel, Justice Imo (rtd), who is a
former chief judge of Abia, explained that the first volume of the
report contains the main report while the second volume contains
all the petitions with volume three has the records and proceedings
of the Panel.

He further noted that fourth volume centred on findings and
recommendations of the panel while the last volume contains case
files, exhibits, among others.

Justice Imo said that the panel received 86 cases/petitions out
of which 46 went through full hearing while the remaining cases
were dismissed or struck out.

The 21- member panel was inaugurated by Governor Ikpeazu on
October 23, 2020 with a charge to expeditiously treat cases of
police brutality from 2015 till date. It was in response to the
aftermath of the #EndSARS nation-wide protests organised by youths
against police brutally.

The proceedings of the panel were replete with gory tales of
blood, tears, brutality, rights abuses and cases of missing persons
in the hands of the police and other security agencies without
trace till date.

Some of the panel members include Bishop Sunday Onuoha, Mr.
Iheonu Chionye, Mr. Nwaojigba Darlington, Engr Daniel Chinago,
Comrade John Emejor, while the permanent secretary, ministry of
justice, Mrs. Uche Ikonne served as secretary.