END SARS: Victims to sue Akeredolu over failure to implement panel report

Some victims of police brutality in Ondo State have threatened to drag Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the Ondo Government to court over delay in the implementation of the 2020 ENDSARS panel report.

The Ondo ENDSARS Panel headed by Justice Adesola Sidiq (rtd) received 77 petitions and in its report recommended payment of N755m compensation to victims, publication of apologies in national dailies in deserving cases and discontinuation of cases instituted against persons arrested during the ENDSARS protest.

The panel also recommended a review of Section 84 of the Sheriffs and Civil Processes Act to smoothen the process of judgment execution against police and other public officers where victims of human rights breaches have approached the court and got favourable judgment.

Lawyer to some of the victims, Tope Temokun, in a statement in Akure, said it was sad that the panel report has not been released nor has it been implemented three years after it was submitted.

Temokun said the duty imposed on the Governor by the law does not include keeping away or hiding such report from the public.

“In this case, public fund was dissipated into that exercise and the poor victims, embracing hopes and trusting in the government, travelled distances from the various communities of the state to come and present their complaints. The panel had completed its historical and statutory role and had submitted report.

“This country bled for long under the disbanded SARS and the victims need the government to heal their wounds. So the purpose of that exercise was to ensure that justice was done to victims of police brutality, extra-judicial killings and infringement of the fundamental human rights of the people.

“Holding on to such panel report is illegal, immoral and it is an unpardonable sin against humanity. It is against good conscience to deny victims of hopes.

“We call on the government of Ondo Sate to purge itself of this sinful act and release the report to the public and implement same. We shall approach the court to enforce this if the government fails to heed,” he asserted.

Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Sir Charles Titiloye, said the present administration has implemented some aspect of the panel report and was still studying the area of payment of compensation to victims.



FI