By Saminu Ibrahim
The Independent Investigative Panel (IIP) probing allegations of Human Rights Violations by officers of disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other Tactical units of the Nigeria Police has received 150 petitions of Human Rights Violations against SARS.
The complaints covers the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the six geo-political zones.
Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Tony Ojukwu Esq. made this known at the inaugural sitting of the panel, held on Wednesday at the FCT High Court in Abuja.
He said the panel is targeted at ensuring accessibility to victims of human rights violation.
He added that the panel has extended the two weeks window for submission of complaints “so that Nigerians can have unhindered access to the services of the panel”, pointing out that the closing date for submission of complaints will now be open.
Acccording to the NHRC boss, the commission will collaborate with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to assist complainants to articulate their complaints and be represented before the panel on pro Bono basis.
“The NBA will also appear as amicus curie at the various panels both at the state and federal levels”.
He explained that the panel was set up as implementation of one of the recommendations of the 2018 presidential panel report on SARS reforms, which amongst other things recommended the institutionalization of an annual mechanism by the Commission to listen to the complaints of human rights violations by Officers of the police for purposes of accountability for human rights violations and for prevention of impunity.
“This panel will therefore listen to all complaints against officers of SARS, other technical units and officers of the Nigeria Police Force” Ojukwu said.
He however applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the approval of the implementation of the 2018 presidential panel on SARS reform report.
