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BREAKING: Bayelsa Judicial Panel awards N21bn to victims of Police brutality
The Bayelsa Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality and other Related Offences has awarded N21 billion to victims of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the police and other security operatives.
Chairman of the Panel, rtd. Justice Young Ogola, disclosed this while submitting the report to Gov. Douye Diri in Yenagoa.
Justice Ogola said the panel received and determined 50 petitions and made recommendations based on their findings.
Out of the 50 cases, he said 11 police officers were recommended for prosecution, one for dismissal, four for demotion, while eight cases were struck out and two adjourned.
The chairman, explained that the N21 billion was awarded in damages out of the 40 cases fully determined, adding that the amount included compensation to communities razed down by the Nigerian Army.
Receiving the report, Gov. Diri thanked the panel for doing a thorough job and promised to set up a government White paper committee to look into the report with a view to implementing its recommendations.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, noted that government would look for ways to bring relief to the victims and families within available resources.
”Although no amount of compensation can bring back some of the deceased, the compensation will ameliorate the suffering of the victims and families caused by the excesses of misguided security agents,” he said.
While acknowledging the enormous task of the security agencies to secure lives and property, Diri, called on security personnel to enforce the law within the confines of the law.
“The panel was set up to get to the root of injustice, violation of human rights and the best way with which police and other security agencies in the country will discharge their duties professionally with human face.
“The issues you have raised will be looked into. The N21 billion awarded is appropriate, but for the security agencies to pay is another thing.
“We will within the limits of available resources and procedures see how these victims will get reprieve.
“While the law enforcement agencies have everyday to protect lives and property, they also have a duty to do that within the confines of responsibility and protection of human rights of all citizens,” he said.
The panel was inaugurated on Oct. 28, 2020 after the #EndSars# nationwide protest.
Other members of the panel are Mr Y.B. Ogola, Mr Alaowei Opokuma as Secretary, A.T. Ambaowei, Mr Fortune Alfred Godson, Miss Perelade Demanche both representing civil society and Russell Newman representing the National Human Rights Commission.
July 8, 2021
#EndSARS: Two Victims Of Police Brutality Receive N11m Compensation
The Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for victims of SARS has again given out cheques to more victims of police brutality.
At the panel’s sitting on Saturday, two victims were awarded the sum of N11 million as compensation.
With the new compensations, the panel has now given out a total sum of N68. 25 million to 12 petitioners.
In the petition of late Rasheed Olanrewaju Kareem, his widow was awarded the sum of N10m for the extra judicial killing.
The brother of the deceased, Olalekan Bankole, who testified on February 16, had said that the deceased was shot in the head by police officers from the Area C Command in Surulere.
The incident was said to have occurred on October 21, 2020 during the #EndSARS protests.
The panel found that the police authorities failed to investigate the unjustified shooting of unarmed persons at the Tejuosho and Aralile areas of Surulere in Lagos, as well as the extrajudicial killing of the deceased and other persons.
The Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi recommended that “the Nigeria Police Force carries out an independent investigation into the sporadic and deliberate shooting, in order to confirm who carried out the shooting” and prosecute them accordingly.
In the petition of Yinka Austin Adebayo, the panel awarded him the sum of N1 million naira as compensation for the unlawful arrest, brutality and torture meted on him by police operatives between September 28 and 30, 2017.
In reaching its decision, the panel found that on the totality of evidence adduced by the petitioner, the Petitioner’s evidence was undefended, strong and uncontroverted by the Police.
It was also corroborated by the evidence of the second witness as proof that Mr Austin’s rights were infringed upon unjustifiably, having being cleared by the DPO of the Ojo Police Command in Lagos of committing any crime, yet he was still transferred to the SARS unit at Ikeja.
The panel frowned at the illegal confiscation of his car and further held that he was entitled to compensation in the sum of N1m for the violation of his personal liberty and degrading treatment meted to him
May 15, 2021
Court Awards N210m Damages To 3 Victims Of Police Brutality
A Federal High Court sitting in Bauchi has delivered a landmark judgement in favour of three victims of police brutality and extrajudicial killing in the state.
The court was convinced that two of the victims – Ibrahim Babangida and Ibrahim Sama’Ila – were tortured to death by the police after being accused of stealing 24 chickens belonging to a retired police officer.
In his ruling on Friday, the presiding judge, Justice Hassan Dikko, awarded the sum of N100 million each to the families of the deceased as compensation.
The only surviving victim, 30-year-old Abdulwahab Bello, was also awarded N10 million compensation for the brutality, senseless arrest, and torture he suffered.
The events that led to the judgement began with an allegation of chicken theft against the victims on July 21, 2020.
Bello and his late friends were indicted in the crime, after which they were arrested and detained at the Township Division “A” Police Station in Bauchi.
He recalled how one Superintendent Baba Ali, who was the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at the time, used a pestle to torture him and his two friends who died as a result of the brutality.
“He hit Ibrahim continuously until his last breath,” the visibly moody survivour, who now limps, said.
The action of the police was condemned by Bello and the families of his late friends who filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Bauchi.
Joined as respondents were Ali, one Sergeant Jibrin Mohammed, the Commissioner of Police in Bauchi, the Inspector General of Police, and the Police Service Commission.
Five months after the suit was filed, Justice Dikko delivered the final judgement and ruled that there was a clear case of extrajudicial killing.
According to the judge, the action of the police amounts to the infringement of the victims’ fundamental human right to dignity.
“Justice has been served and I am happy but for the children who lost their lives, I pray for the repose of their souls,” said Babangida Ibrahim, the father of one of the late victims.
The mother of the other victim, Hajara Ismai’l, also said she had lost hope of getting justice and thanked the court for the judgement.
March 27, 2021
#EndSARS: Widow alleges her husband died in police detention over N200 airtime
A widow and mother of two, Adebimpe Sobowale, appeared before the Ogun State Panel of Inquiry on police brutality and human rights violations today January 19 where she shared the story of how her husband died while allegedly being detained by some officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad SARS at the Zonal Intervention Squad in the Odeda area of the state over a N200 recharge card.
Narrating her story amidst tears, Adebimpe said she was arrested on Feb. 8, 2020, and taken to a holding cell in the station on an allegation that her SIM card was used to carry out a fraudulent action.
“They used the thing, which was plugged to an electric socket, to shock me, and asked me to write whatever they dictated to me as a statement. They said I belonged to a gang of fraudsters. They said my sim card was used to collect N200 recharge. They said they tracked it at Zain (Airtel) office and it brought my picture.” she said
Sobowale told the panel that she was released two days later after she insisted she was innocent but that her husband, now late, was arrested a day before her release.
“I told them I don’t know what they were talking about and I refused to implicate myself in the statement. They arrested my husband on Feb. 10 and released me the next day” she said
The distraught mother told the panel that that was the last time she saw her husband as she was informed about his passing some days later.
“Some days later, I was informed that my husband had died in detention,” she said.
Sobowale said she was arrested by three SARS officers but she could only identify two of them and she recalled that one of them was called Inspector Apiah Moses.
She told the panel that until his death, her husband was a plank seller at the Mowe area of Lagos State.
The panel adjourned the case till February 4 while the respondents were asked to produce Inspector Apiah Moses, who is the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) in the case.
January 20, 2021
Police brutality: NBA to provide free legal services to poor victims
By Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The Nigeria Bar Association is to provide free services to the victims of Police brutality, human rights violation and Extra-judicial killings who could not afford services of lawyers to defend them at the panel of Inquiry investigating Police brutality, Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Makurdi branch, Mr Job Ishember has revealed.
Ishember who disclosed this in an interview in Makurdi maintained that the decision is sequel to the directive by the National President of the association that all the branches should provide free legal services to such victims throughout the nation.
To this end, the Makurdi branch of the association has sent a team of lawyers led by Barr Samuel Akor to defend the aforementioned category of victims of Police brutality.

Meanwhile, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the human rights violation and Extra-judicial killings has received 54 petitions from victims of Benue Police Special Anty Robbery Squared brutality.   Secretary of the panel, Mr Edward Yange contended that they would continue to receive petitions from victims throughout the six months’ duration.
He pointed out that the duration may be extended if there are many cases for members to handle.
December 15, 2020
Police Brutality: Victim demands N4 million compensation
From Isaac Kertyo Makurdi
A victim of Police brutality, Pastor David Pev has demanded the payment of N4.1 million compensation over the injures he sustained when he was attacked by some Policemen in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
A 25 year old Pastor made the demand before an eighth -man Judicial Panel of Inquiry on alleged Police brutality, Extra-judicial killings and Human rights violation, sitting in Makurdi.
The Clergy who submitted theposition through his counsel, Emmanuel Kasar, recalled that at about 7:30pm of July 28, 2019 while returning from his commercial motorcycle business, popularly known as okada business with his brand new motorcycle with registration number MKD 46 Qm, he was attacked by the from ‘B’ Division at High level roundabout in Makurdi and hit him with a stick in an attempt to stop him.
He told the panel that he fell on tarred road in his pool of blood from severe injuries he sustained, stressing that he became unconscious as his motorcycle got damaged. Under cross-examination by counsel to the Police, F.N Agwu, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP),Pev tendered pictures, photo copies of legal free receipt and a letter from Immaculate Hospital, Makurdi with card number 43771, where he was admitted for treatment as evidence.
The Cleric asked the panel to look into his case, averring that he lost his source of income as a result of this. However, counsel to the Police, Agwu opposed the demand explaining that the pictures the petitioner tendered were photo-shopped, adding that in law of evidence, photo copies of documents cannot be tendered before a panel. He urged the panel to reject the the documents. The case has been adjourned to another date for continuation. Meanwhile, the panel has received several other petitions relating to Police brutality, Human rights abuses among others.
November 28, 2020
#ENDSARS: Naira Marley, Runtown set to lead protest against police brutality
Popular singers, Naira Marley and Runtown have each taken to their social media accounts to announce that they would lead protests against the incessant police brutality in the country.
Tesumole singer, Naira Marley, stated that he would stage his peaceful protest on Tuesday. He further told his 1.9 million followers via his twitter account that some police officers would join the protest.
Naira Marley urged his fans to ensure that the protest remained peaceful and there should not be any form of violence.
“So on Tuesday, we got some SARS coming out with us. The ones that claim to only come out for big operations and not the dirty works on the road they are coming out to show support and to answer some questions, we also got some police officers and soldiers joining the protest.
“Don’t forget guys just in case you see any SARS or any forces there on Tuesday don’t start any fight. We are allowed to ask questions? But remember no fight, no vandalism. Peaceful protest. Thanks,” the singer tweeted.
Singer, Runtown, announced to his 1.3 million followers that he will lead a peaceful protest on Thursday against police brutality. The singer told his followers that it would be a peaceful protest.
“This has gone long enough and now we must take action! I’ll be leading a protest to #ENDSARS on Thursday, October 8th 2020. They MUST listen to us, they MUST make/effect real and visible changes! Empty promises won’t work this time!!!
“Let’s all come out to peacefully reach out to our “Elected” leaders beyond social media!!! Venue/Take Off Point: Lekki Phase 1, Toll Gate. 10 am,” Runtown tweeted.
October 4, 2020