SARS: Presidential Panel Recommends Dismissal Of 37 Policemen

The Presidential Presidential Panel on SARS Reform has recommended the dismissal of 37 policemen accused violating the rights of Nigerians.

The panel, which was headed by the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, Anthony Ojukwu, has just submitted it’s report to President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja.

In all the Presidential Panel received 113 complaints across Nigeria, investigated them and arrived at the conclusions and recommendations.

Ojukwu said, “At the end of its public hearing and having listened to complaints as well as defendants and their counsel, the Panel recommended thirty-seven (37) Police officers for dismissal from the force. Twenty four (24) were recommended for prosecution.

“The panel also directed the Inspector General of Police to unravel the identity of twenty-two (22) officers involved in the violation of the human rights of innocent Citizens.

“The police were directed to pay compensation of various sums in forty—five (45) complaints and tender public apologies in five (5) complaints and directed to obey court orders in five (5) matters.

“The police were directed to immediately arrest and prosecute two (2) retired senior Police officers found to have violated the rights of citizens (one for extra-judicial killing and the other for the illegal takeover of Property of a suspect). The Panel also recovered two vehicles illegally auctioned by SARS Officers and returned them to their owners.”