Nearly two years after it was inaugurated by the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, the 11-member Independent Investigative Panel, IIP, to probe allegations of human rights violations against the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and other units of the Nigeria Police Force, has recommended sanctions against 72 police officers.
The report, which was submitted to the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, by the chairman of the panel, Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima, recommended that 28 officers face prosecution, 25 for dismissal, 15 for other forms of punishment, while 4 are to be demoted.
Speaking at the inauguration, Ojukwu said, “The panel is set up to investigate allegations of human rights violations and abuse of power made defunct SARS and other units of the Nigerian Police Force (Section6 (a) of NHRC.
“Make determination as to the damages or compensation payable in relation to any violation of human rights, refer any matter of human rights violations requiring prosecution.”
The committee had Justice Suleiman Galadima, as chairman, Abdulrahaman Yakubu representing NHRC, representatives of Civil society, Lydia Umar, and Uju Agomoh.
Other members are representatives of the youth, Mubarak Mijinyawa (speaker Nigerian Youth Parliament), and the representatives of Police Service Commission, Tijani Mohammed.
Also, on the panel are representative of Nigerian Police Force, Ibrahim Larmode, representatives of NBA, John Aikpokpo-Martin and Garba Tetegi, SAN while the Secretary to the panel is Hillary Ogbonna.
