The Secretary to the state government of Delta, Chief Patrick Ukah, said in a statement that the state executive council had approved the recommendations of the panel to pay the incidental claims recommended for the victims, amounting to the sum of N102,450,000.00.
The compensation came after report submitted by judicial panel of inquiry instituted to investigate persecution and extra-judicial killings by the police which culminated into last year’s Endsars protest.
The commission was inaugurated in October, 2020 and has received a total of 86 petitions for which it conducted public hearings in Asaba and Warri with full legal representation for all parties. However, the commission was unable to make recommendation to the state government on all the petitions because some are already under litigation in various courts, thus making recommendation would be sub-judice.
“In the same vein, the panel upheld judgments earlier delivered by High Courts in the State for various cases of police brutality, which judgements have not been complied with till date, including payment of Judgement debts associated with them.
“The State Government having considered the Panel’s recommendations in these two categories of cases has accepted to pay the incidental claims recommended for the victims, amounting to the sum of N102,450,000.00
“Another variant of the petitions received by the Panel were 30 petitions which required that the Commissioner of Police in the State carry out investigations to ascertain the circumstance of death of some persons in police custody,” the SSG said.
The commission further enquire into police officers found wanting according to the statement which would be subsequently prosecuted.
“It is the expectation that at the completion of the investigation, the case files would be forwarded to the Attorney-General of Delta State for legal advice and possible prosecution of the policemen involved,”
The state government has still accepted recommendation to set up Human Rights Public Complaints Committee to be headed by the governor of Delta State and which will ensure that police officers respect the rights of citizens during their operations, adding that the committee will be inaugurated on Wednesday, October 20, 2021.
