By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Anambra Civil Society Network (ACSONET), a platform for citizens and non State Actors, has appealed to the State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo to implement the EndSars Judicial Panel of inquiry report submitted since March 15, 2022.
The leader of ACSCONET, Prince Chris Azor, who was a member of the Panel, disclosed this in a statement, adding that implementing the report would help to curb insecurity and other challenges in the State.
The Civil Society advocate said that non implementation of the Panel's report would widen the trust deficit between the Citizens and Government. And may lead to yet another EndSars in the near future.
According to Azor, the Judicial Panel investigated police brutality following the EndSARS protest and was headed by Justice Veronica Umeh (rtd).
He said it was submitted after over one year of deliberations, and recommended N699.5million compensation for 170 petitioners/families Of dead victims of police brutality.
"The State Government in its effort to address security challenges in the State should, as a first step act on the report to ameliorate the various injuries suffered by victims and their families. This should be fundamental towards achieving desired peace and security in the State and indeed the Southeast region," he noted.
The State government had urged all 36 States and FCT to constitute the panel following the protests in October 2020, with a view to address the five (5) point demand of the protesters, namely, immediate release of all arrested protesters, psychological evaluation and retraining of all disbanded SARS officers prior to their redeployment, compensation for all victims of police brutality, investigation and prosecution of errant police officers, and increased police salary.
"Anambra State Government accordingly constituted a Panel made up of over 35 major stakeholders cutting across sundry interests. The Panel received over 300 petitions and made recommendations in a report submitted to the State Government.
"Highlights of the recommendations are N699.5million for 170 petitioners, Victims with permanent deformities were to be paid between N1million and N3million, depending on the extent of their injuries, while those with minor injuries should receive between N400,000 and N1 million.
"All #EndSARS policemen found culpable to be prosecuted even as all officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force would be going on annual psychological examination. Policemen, who refused to obey superior orders to be punished, while confiscated properties of #EndSARS victims to be released.
"Forensic examination of the Awkuzu and Nnewi #EndSARS offices, where extrajudicial killings took place, and the policemen involved in the killings to be prosecuted was also recommended by the Panel etc. Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, who received the report on behalf of the State Government, in his response assured that they would study the report and make necessary recommendations.
"However, up till this moment no action has been taken on the report, rather the new administration at inception constituted a Truth, Justice and Peace Commission with Prof Chidi Odinkalu and Ambassador Bianca Odimegwu Ojukwu as Chairman and Secretary respectively," he noted.