#EndSARS: Osun Panel Of Inquiry Calls For Memoranda, Gives Ultimatum

By Sodiq Yusuf

The Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, inaugurated by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola last week, has called for petitions and memoranda from members of the public and relevant government agencies on alleged human rights violation by members of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), among other sundry issues.

The panel, given a mandate of six months, in line with the approval of the National Economic Council, is sitting at the Council of Obas Chambers, Finance Building, State Secretariat, Osogbo.

Secretary of the Panel, Mrs Adekemi Bello, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER, said complaints are limited to those that happened between May 29, 1999 and November 25, 2020.

According to Bello, the petition should be submitted to the Secretary, Osun State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Department of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Abere.

Bello added that memoranda can also be submitted on behalf of dead persons and those who were direct victims of either police brutality or other forms of abuses by government agencies.

The statement reads: “Osun State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality wishes to inform the general public that, any person or persons who have been victims of police brutality under the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, any other police department or any other government department, including the two alleged incidents of death recently at Osogbo, which led to the attack on the Governor ‘s convoy at Olaiya Junction Osogbo may submit memoranda/petitions to the Panel.

“Any person submitting memorandum may be required to personally give oral testimonies and tender other pieces of evidence at the hearing of his/her petition. Such petitioners may engage the services of lawyers of their choice (only if they so wish).

“All memoranda/petitions shall be clearly typed and submitted to the Panel by hand or sent to the e-mail: osunjudicialpanelofinquiry@gmail.com or WhatsApp number – 0807 983 9799 of the Panel. The typeset which shall not be more than five (5) pages, shall be in Times New Roman of 14 font size, with at least single spaces in-between the lines.

“All memoranda/petitions shall be perfected in the following style; Introduction – which must state the full:- names; phone numbers/e-mail address/ WhatsApp number of the petitioner; name and address of the victim/victims; name/names of the alleged assailant/police man/officer and his/her office address (if known) or police station to which he/she is/was attached; names, phone numbers and addresses of witnesses, if had/known; dates, time, venue/location of the incidence (where the alleged assault took place); any other piece of information or facts that will assist the panel to do justice.

“Facts and evidence of the case, where available, Reliefs sought from the Panel (what you want the Panel to do for you), Signature or thumb print of the Petitioner. All Petitions to be submitted on working days between the hours of 8am to 4pm from Monday, 26th October, 2020 to 25th November, 2020 (which is the closing date for submission of memoranda/petitions).

“Any petition written in any language other than English Language shall have the English Language translation accompanying it.”