By Scholastica JOSEPH, Makurdi
The Benue State Judicial Panel of Inquiry has submitted their report with a recommendation that the sum of N304,535,095.85 be paid to various categories of victims of Police brutality in the State as compensations.
Chairman of the panel, Justice Adam Onum, while presenting the report to the state government, said the Panel also recommended various police officers to the Attorney General of the State for discreet investigations with a view to prosecuting them for respective crimes arising from respective conducts.
Recall that after the EndSARS protests which took place the country following police maltreatment of Nigerians, the state Government, on the 21st of October, 2020, constituted a judicial panel of inquiry into complaints of brutality and/or extra-judicial killings by the police in the state.
The panel was to receive complaints from members of the public on matters of abuse of police powers, including police brutality, extra-judicial killings and to make findings based on the evidence received and recommend appropriate remedial measures.
The chairman said while the panel invited complaints of any kind on abuse of the powers of the Police, including those touching on brutality, extra-judicial killings, and disobedience of judicial orders, it received a total number of 72 complaints and one memorandum titled: “Unprofessional Conduct (sic) Nigeria Police” submitted by Mr. Ibezimako Aghanya, now late, a onetime Commissioner of Police in the State.
He noted that in the course of investigations, the Panel discovered different levels of brutality, including where some persons were brutally murdered by the police in cold blood, leaving families without respective heads and bread winners.
“where some persons died in police custody, owing to complications arising from torture and/or other forms of abuse of police powers, including unwarranted denial of rights to bail.
“where some persons suffered grievous bodily hurts, or non-grievous bodily hurts, as defined under law, in the hands of the Police as well as where some items of property were destroyed by the Police or unjustly seized and confiscated by the Police.
“where persons were subjected to intimidation, with the sole aim of extorting money from them and where the Police took advantage of its privileged position to refuse to obey judicial orders, particularly over breaches of fundamental rights.”
Onum explained that the recommendations of the panel were largely dictated by the level of impact on the respective victims, and the society in general.
The panel chairman thanked the Benue public, especially the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, for the co-operation it received during the course of their work and thanked the state government for the opportunity given to them.
Receiving the reports on behalf of Benue state Government, Deputy Governor, Benson Abounu, thanked the panel for doing an excellent job and for a very comprehensive report saying the report will help victims get justice.
Abounu who appealed to Nigerians to seek better ways of addressing issues expressed hope that the report will not be dumped.
He appealed to the federal government to urgently set up an implementation committed to get commence work on the reports.
CECEF call states on domestication, implementation of Child Rights Act
By Chuks NZEH
National Coordinator, Child Education and Crime Eradication Foundation, CECEF, Amb Evelyn Eyo-Honesty Ogbogu, has called on states yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act to do so, while urging its implementation by those that have done so.
Ogbogu made this known in Calabar, Cross River state, at an event to commemorate the International Day of the Girl-Child with the theme “Digital Generation, our Generation.”
She urged state governments that yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act to hasten the process as it is a critical Act for societal development.
She said doing so will help fight a lot of challenges the girl-child faces, such as rape, assaults, abuse and trafficking which are on the increase in Nigeria lately.
Ogbogu appealed to government and critical stakeholders mostly civil society organisations to improve on gender equality policies to serve as the foundation to prepare the girl-child to contribute her quota to development and attain any height she so desires.
She assured that CECEF will continue to stand for justice especially when it relates to the girl-child to increase her confidence and self-esteem, while calling on their friends and well-wishers to donate sanitary pads for the operation reach 1,000,000 Girl Child, which targets the vulnerable girls mostly in rural.
The national coordinator, CECEF also urged the girl-child not to relent in their quest to be the best they can be especially when choosing a career irrespective of the norms currently in the world, which mostly promotes a patriarchy, encouraging them to see the likes of Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Obi Ezekwesili, Pauline Tallen, Evelyn Eyo-Honesty Ogbogu, Ibiba Donpedro to mention a few, as mentors whom they can even surpass their achievements.
NUJ hails Kyari on transparency, new initiatives
The Nigeria Union of Journalists on Friday said that the drive by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari for transparency and accountability has spurred investors’ confidence in the oil and gas industry.
The President of NUJ, Mr. Chris Isiguzo said this when he led a delegation of the Union on a courtesy visit to the NNPC GMD in Abuja.
He was accompanied by Shuaibu Usman Leman (National Secretary); Dele Atunbi (National Treasurer); Ladi Bala (National Chairperson, NAWOJ; Emmanuel Ogbeche (Chairman of Council NUJ FCT);
Ochiaka Ugwu (Secretary, NUJ FCT); Amos Dunia; Tita Nzeh (Programs Officer, NUJ National).
The NUJ president commended the GMD and senior management of the NNPC for yet another opportunity to meet and hold conversation on developments in the oil and gas industry.
He explained that for a long time, the oil and gas sector was steeped in opaqueness and non-disclosures a development that has led to widespread speculations and agitations about the operations of the Corporation.
However, he expressed satisfaction that there is currently high level of transparency and accountability at the NNPC.
Specifically, the NUJ President stated that the NNPC, under the leadership of Kyari, has become institutionalized with the publication of the 2019 and 2020 audited financial statements as well as the publication of monthly financial and operations report.
He said, “For a long time, the oil and gas sector was steeped in opaqueness and non-disclosures, leading to widespread speculations and agitations on the operations of the Corporation.
“It is, therefore, heartwarming that in 2019, the Federal Government launched the ‘Operation White’ project which is hinged on transparency and accountability in the supply and distribution of petroleum products.
“True to the pledge you made on assumption of office to open the NNPC financial books to the public as part of your management’s commitment to openness, transparency, and accountability in line with the global EITI principles, the country heralded a new dawn in 2020, despite the corrosive effect of Covid-19, the NNPC published its 2018 annual reports and audited financial statement after more than four decades.
“Without a doubt, this drive for transparency and accountability has not been a one-off affair, rather has become institutionalized as audited accounts for 2019 and 2020 with profit declared published as well as monthly financial and operations report.“It is gratifying that this has spurred investors’ confidence and renewed the hope of our fellow country in the management of the NNPC led by Mallam Mele Kyari.”
