Ugar Ukandi Odey, Jos
The judicial commission of inquiry recently constituted by Governor Lalong in response to the #ENDSARS demands of the youths had its inaugural sitting today in Jos with the commission chairman, retired Justice Philomena Lot, promising that “we will do justice to all”.
As part of her address during the Inauguration sitting at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre, Dadin Kowa, Jos South, Justice Lot commended both the federal and Plateau State governments for acting in tune with democracy and democratic governance by not only disbanding the SARS as demanded by the youths, but also setting up judicial commission of inquiry in every State to holistically review complaints against the SARS operations and Human Rights abuses.
Lot said “we urge those with genuine complaints to come forward and and file their complaints…. We therefore urge those appearing before us to be precise in their submissions to avoid unnecessary arguments and legal technicalities to enable us to do justice to the matters. We assure you that we will do justice to all those that appear before us”.
In his address at the sitting, Garba Paul, SAN, who represented the body of SANs at the occasion, commended the composition of personnel on the commission, expressing that there is hope for justice to be done at the end of the day.
Pwul urged the commission to do its best, including having the courage to recommend appropriate and adequate compensation where victims prove case of substantial damage, noting that the problem of Police brutality against citizens in Nigeria is an old one.
In his address, chairman of the Jos Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Yakubu Bawa, also expressed confidence in the professional experience and mileage of the members of the Commission, and announced that the NBA has undertaken to offer pro bono (free) services to members of the public who may be having issues to petition and plead at the Commission.
