…as Secretary joins husband in Mexico
BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Petitioners at the just concluded Osun State Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Related Extra Judiciary Killings have lamented the delay in getting compensations from the state and the federal governments on account of their fate during the violent protest that rocked the nation during the #EndSARS protest.
The petitioners expressed their displeasure at the panel’s failure to present their reports and recommendations to the state government in time for necessary action.
The panel, which was inaugurated by Governor Gboyega Oyetola on October 23, 2020, chaired by a retired judge of the state High Court, Justice Akin Oladimeji, drew the curtains on its sittings on March 27, after sitting for about four months.
Oladimeji indicated that the panel entertained 34 petitions within the period, saying that 11 of them were struck out while 23 cases were diligently prosecuted.
“We are going to make our recommendations to the governor before the end of April or early May,” Oladimeji had said.
However, The Point gathered that about two months after the panel promised to submit its report to the state government, it had yet to do so. It was learnt that the absence of the Secretary of the panel, Kemi Bello, from the country, stalled the presentation of the report to the governor.
Bello, the Director of Public Prosecution in the state, was said to have travelled with her husband, Adejare Bello, a Nigerian Ambassador, to Mexico.
A petitioner, Olusegun Olaosebikan, lamented the delay in the presentation of the report despite the assurances by the panel. “We all know that justice delayed is justice denied. Other states have been submitting their recommendations and even giving compensations to victims. Why should our own be different in Osun?” Olaosebikan asked.
Another petitioner, Elusanmi Kolawole, also flayed the delay, saying that his health was deteriorating as a result of the police brutality during the #EndSARS protest.
In an interview with The Point, a member of the panel and Youth Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Ismail AbdulAziz, disclosed that the report of the panel was ready and would soon be presented to Governor Oyetola.
Another member of the panel, Ayo Ologun, who represented the civil societies, youths and #EndSARS protesters, said, “The panel had taken decisions on all issues. The report is with the secretary of the panel as we speak.
“To the best of my knowledge, the governor has not requested the report of the panel. If not, we would have presented it.”
