Judicial Panel of Inquiry needs more time to receive petitions, conclude work – RULAAC

According to the Executive Director of RULAAC, Okechukwu Nwanguma, though the panel of inquiry is a welcome development, the extension of time will allow more victims of police brutality submit their petition, complaints, and also get justice.

Stating that the Panel of Inquiry is a major success and victory achieved by the #EndSARS campaign meant to end police brutality and entrench a culture of accountability, Nwanguma said government must give all the opportunity to derive the most possible benefit from it.

The RULAAC boss maintained that the short duration for the submission of petition and the conclusion of work by the panels would be like placing obstacles to justice.

 He said: “We note that some states have already set up their judicial panels of inquiry with various terms of reference and deadlines given. However, we also note that the time given to victims or their representatives for submission of petitions and the time given to some of the state panels to conclude their work are too short to allow as many of the victims as possible the opportunity to submit petitions and seek justice.

“Many victims would be denied this opportunity to seek justice if the deadlines for submission and the time frame given to the panels to conclude their work and submit their reports are not extended to reasonable periods of time.

“For example, we have seen the Anambra State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality,

Extrajudicial Killings and Other Related Matters: Call for Submission of Petitions, Complaints and Memoranda. The Anambra panel was inaugurated on Tuesday, October 20. The Secretariat of the Panel published its call for submissions two days ago – on October 27.

“The secretariat requires all submissions to be

made within two weeks of the publication of the call. Seven days have already gone and many victims are still putting together their submissions, which requires swearing of affidavit.

“The panel has one month from the

 date of its inauguration to submit report to the state government.  Nine days have gone and virtually extinguished by the respective curfews imposed by state governors in their states, which make it impossible for petitioners and victims to access courts to depose to affidavits verifying the facts stated in their respective petitions. We call for extension of time to allow as many victims as possible to utilize this opportunity.”

He also stated that some conditions attached to the submission of memoranda, petitions are too cumbersome, complicated and prohibitive for majority of the victims who are poor.

“The requirement by some states to submit 15 copies is needless. As already stated, majority of the victims are poor. We believe that the Secretariats can receive one copy and make duplicates as they may require. Provisions

for online submissions should also be prioritized. We must remove conditions that place obstacles to justice.

“ We call for government sincerity in this process. We call on victims to make the maximum use of this opportunity. We call on civil society organizations who have, for many years, been leading this struggle against police brutality and for the entrenchment of police accountability to be on hand to assist as

many victims as possible to derive maximum benefit from this opportunity.”

Nwanguma noted that RULAAC is also working with a team of public interest lawyers to present petitions and represent some victims at some state panels.

Speaking on the arrest of suspected arsonists, looters and hoodlums involved in #EndSARS unrest, the RULAAC boss said the police must resist the temptation to act with malice and vengeance towards suspects.

He said those arrested should be properly and professionally processed to isolate and free the innocent ones, while those suspected to be actually involved should be treated humanely and promptly charged to court.