By NNANNA NWOGU, Umuahia

The Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Extra-Judicial Killings and other Related Matters, on Monday, recommended over N511 million naira as compensation to victims of police brutality and inhuman treatment.

Submitting its five-volume reports to the State Governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, the chairman of the panel, Rtd Chief Judge of Abia State, Hon. Justice Sunday Imo said the first volume contained the main report, the second volume contained all the petitions, Volume 3 dealt with records and proceedings of the Panel, while volume 4 centred on Findings and recommendations of the Panel while the last volume contained case files, exhibits and other documents.

Justice Imo(rtd) announced that the Panel recommended that over N511 million naira be paid to the victims of security agents brutality and other human rights abuses, revealing that the Panel received 86 petitions and 46 went through full hearing while the remaining cases were dismissed or struck out.

Receiving the report, Governor Ikpeazu commended the Panel for rendering historic and selfless services to their fatherland, promising that the state government would clinically study the report with a view to implementing it.

The state governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chris Ezem, stressed that the report would guide the public on how best to relate with the police and other security agencies, reiterating that the security institutions needed the support and cooperation of the citizens, in order to excel in their duties.

The Panel was inaugurated by the governor on October 23, 2020, with a charge to expeditiously treat cases of Police brutality from 2015 till date. (Nigerian Tribune)

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