Determined to work with relevant stakeholders towards a successful reform of the Nigerian Police Force, the National Human Rights Commission has published its call for petitions requesting members of the public to submit complaints of human rights violations against the defunct SARS or other units of the Police to the Independent Investigations Panel on human rights violations against the Police.
Executive Secretary of NHRC, Tony Ojukwu Esq. who disclosed this in Abuja stated that that the Commission has also inaugurated an 11 member panel headed by an eminent jurist and former Supreme Court Justice, Justice Sulieman Galadima, in expectation that anyone who is a victim of SARS brutality or other related assaults will take advantage of the call for petitions and the public hearing sitting soon, to seek redress.
According to Ojukwu, the independent investigative Panel is very imperative because it will address various reports of alleged extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests, torture, disappearances, extortions, confiscation of property, violations of dignity and privacy, etc which have received national and global attentions.
The Chief Human Rights Officer therefore urged the members of the public to check publications of the call for memoranda entitled, “Independent Investigative Panel on Human Rights Violations by Defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other Units of the Nigerian Police Force 2020 Call for Petition/Notice of Public Hearing” in Daily Trust of Tuesday October 20, 2020, The Authority of Monday 19, 2020 and Vanguard 21st October, 2020 and the NHRC website, www.nhrc.gov.ng
The Commission says the deadline for submission of petitions which could be made via email, info@nhrc.gov.ng or post or deposit at the headquarters of the Commission or offices of the Commission in the 36 states of the federation is 2nd of November, 2020.
