The Benin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association on Wednesday congratulated the Lagos State Judicial Panel on #EndSARS for its timely report following the investigation into the 2020 protests.
The bar expressed its congratulations in a declaration signed respectively by its president and its secretary, MM. Pius Oiwoh and Andrew Lawani.
He congratulated the lawyers who provided free legal services to victims, adding that the bar was delighted to support the unprecedented discovery of the facts determined by the panel.
NAN reports that the Lagos State Judicial Panel on #EndSARS submitted its report to the Lagos State Government on November 15.
The panel was inaugurated on October 19, 2020 to examine complaints from citizens regarding rights violations by agents of the special anti-theft squad of the police.
Following the Lekki toll booth on October 20, 2020 between protesters and security guards, the panel’s mandate was broadened to cover the imbroglio.
The panel, chaired by Judge Doris Okuwobi, sat for over a year, listening to testimony from petitioners, witnesses, experts and lawyers.
In its statement on Wednesday, the NBA called the panel’s report a job well done.
“The NBA Benin Bar welcomes the report of the Lagos State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Compensation for Victims of SARS-related Abuse and Other Matters.
“We salute the panel led by retired Judge Doris Okuwobi for the courage, activism and tenacity they have shown in putting together a comprehensive report.
“The panelists wrote their names in gold.
“We also extend special congratulations to our colleagues who appeared for many victims and many of them did so on a voluntary basis; they displayed the finest traditions for which the Bar is known.
“The Lagos panel made far-reaching conclusions and recommendations that are widely accepted.
“We hope that the panel set up by the Governor of Lagos State will quickly come up with a white paper to give effect to the panel’s recommendations.
“We also hope that the contents of the Lagos report will serve as a lesson for all,” he said.
The bar also advised other states that had set up such panels to make their reports public in order to build public confidence.
NAN reports that during the panel sessions, it announced that it would divide its mission and report into two main segments.
The reports he said would cover general cases of police abuse and the specific case of the Lekki Toll Gate incident.
During the proceedings, compensation was paid to deserving cases of police abuse while a special case was made for the victims of the Lekki Toll Gate incident of October 20, 2020.
