Izuchukwu Okosi
THE judicial panel on police brutality instituted by the Lagos State government has submitted its report after one year of investigation.
The panel was set up by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the aftermath of the 2020 protests that saw flashpoints across the country, particularly in Lagos State, as Nigerians called for end of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS), a controversial unit of the Nigeria Police Force in charge of violent robbery cases.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe report, which was originally billed to be completed in six months, was submitted on Monday by the eight-man panel to Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State, at the Alausa seat of power in Ikeja, Lagos State.
Members of the Panel include Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN (Representative of the Civil Society), Rtd General D. I. G Frederick Taiwo Lakanu, Patience Patrick Udoh (Representative, Civil Society), Mrs Oluwatoyin Odusanya (Director, Civil Society), Mr Lucas Koyejo (National Human Rights Commission), Majekodunmi Temitope-Olusegun (Youth representative) and Babajide Boye (Secretary).
The report included the Lekki Toll Gate incident investigation and a consolidated report on police brutality.
Sanwo-Olu spoke in glowing terms of the thorough and professional job done by the Panel. “It is a difficult process of proper reconciliation and restitution,” the governor explained.
Governor Sanwo-Olu further assured that the report would get proper response from the Federal Government.
He said the report would be submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC), adding that “proper response” will be accorded to the recommendations.
Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, also constituted a four-member committee headed by Lagos’ Attorney-General Moyosore Onigbanjo, to produce a White Paper on the panel’s recommendations within the next two weeks.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
