UPDATED: NHRC Needs More Funds As FCT Panel Awards N146m To 27 Victims Of Police Brutality

The Federal Capital Territory Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violation by defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other Units of the Nigeria Police on Thursday handed down monetary compensation worth N146 million to about 27 victims of brutality by security operatives.

However, the panel needs more funds to be able to offset about 150 pending petitions.

The compensations were awarded (in form of dummy cheques) to the victims or a representative from their family at the National Human Rights Commission building in Abuja.

Fourteen of the recipients were victims of extra Judicial killings including a member of the National Youths Service Corps, Angela Linda Igwetu.

10 others were victims of torture, inhuman degradation, illegal arrest while 3 had their businesses confiscated by police.

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the panel which began its maiden sitting on November 2020, as a result of widespread protests against the police, received 295 petitions from Nigerians.

In his welcome remarks on Thursday, the NHRC Executive Secretary, Tony Ojukwu, SAN, felt fulfilled with the development because, according to him, many did not believe that the panel will come up with any meaningful results.

“This event is an assurance that the NHRC will keep promoting and protecting human rights,” Ojukwu said.

But the ES advised that the protection of human rights also rests on the shoulders of all Nigerians including those working in the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative arms of government.

He observed that even though Nigeria seems fragmented by conflicts, the federal and state governments have the constitutional duty of protecting the rights of Nigerians and non-Nigerians.

Monetary Compensation Not Final Report

Chairman of the panel, Justice Suleiman Galadima JSC (Retd), while thanking the relations of the victims who came around, made it clear that the compensation is just an aspect of its final report.

He was silent as to what other recommendations were made but urged the government to implement them all.

Meanwhile, he praised the government at all levels for complying with compensations awarded to victims across the federation by respective panels, adding that other states yet to do so should follow suit.

“This is not the final or comprehensive report of the panel, it’s just a small part of it because of the urgency of compensating the victims.

“It is our hope that other recommendations aside the monetary compensation will be implemented,” he said.

Below are some of the awardees:

1) Mr. Kinsgley Kalu ( Alleged Threat To Life ) – N5m
2) Mrs Anita Akapson ( Alleged Extrajudicial Killing) – N15m
3) John Temitope Alake (Alleged Torture, Extortion) – N7m

Over 150 Petitions Yet To Be Attended Due To Lack Of Funds – Panel Secretary

THE WHISTLER earlier reported that the panel did not sit for about six months following some logistics and financial challenges.

Secretary to the IIP-SARS, Hillary Ogbonna admitted on Thursday that the panel “had seven months of no activity because of logistics and funding challenges.”

He said that it was on that note that the panel will adjourn indefinitely and will no more be sitting until it is able to sort out its financing issue.

Giving a breakdown of the panels’ achievements and challenges, he said that out of 297 petitions received from Nigerians across 26 states of the federation, it concluded 144 cases (about 50%).

“The rest (that is, 153 cases) have not been touched”, he said.

He added that 43 of the concluded cases had to do with extrajudicial killing, 46 on torture while 25 were struck out.

12 petitioners withdrew due to lack of funds to pursue their case, among other things.

“It is not that the FG has given funds to the Commission, from its fund, the NHRC has graciously approved compensation for the victims,” Ogbonna revealed.

Ogbonna added that the Nigerian Police Force and the Police Service Commission will look at the NHRC panel’s final report and determine the defaulting officers that will face prosecution.