The 11-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry into Police Brutality, Violation of Rights of Citizens and Unlawful Killings in Oyo State inaugurated by Gov Seyi Makinde, has assured the families of Jimoh Isiaq, Moshood Ganiyu, Taiwo Adeoye, who were allegedly murdered by officers of the Nigeria Police Area Command, Ogbomoso that justice will be served.
The Chairman of the panel, Hon Justice B. O. Adeniji made this pledge on Tuesday, during the seventh public sitting to address cases brought to the panel.
The panel convened at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State House of Assembly, Ibadan, the state capital at exactly 9:04 am, shortly after the arrival of the panellists.
At the sitting on Tuesday, the panel had 13 cases listed for hearing
Among the cases listed was the petition by the families of Jimoh Isiaq, Moshood Ganiyu, Taiwo Adeoye, and Pelumi Olatunji against The Nigeria Police Area Command, Ogbomoso.
The petitioners were present and were represented by Hussein Afolabi (Esq.) while CSP Funke Fawole and Mr O. J. Matthew represented the respondent at the sitting.
However, CSP Fawole stated that she was not served with the processes and has no idea if the Ogbomoso area command was served with the processes.
The Chairman of the panel expressed her displeasure at how the petition is being handled as the petition came up for the first time on the 26th of January. She said that she expected that the respondent would have been served and fresh hearing notices issued to the petitioner adding that the petitioners came to the sitting from Ogbomoso, only for the respondent to say they have not been served.
The panel adjourned the case till March 3, 2021, and assured the families that justice will be served while all necessary replies by the police and the petitioner’s counsel were requested to be filed on or before February 26, 2021.
Another case presented before the panel was that of Alhaja Olayinka Basirat Akinbo versus Dr. Mohammed T. T. Lawal. The petitioner who wrote the petition against Dr. Mohammed T. T. Lawal and referenced the part played by the police was present but was not represented by a legal counsel at the sitting.
The panel consequently urged her to include the police in her petition so as to make the petition fall under the jurisdiction of the judicial panel. She was also to see the counsel at the state secretariat in order to obtain pro bono services as provided by the Nigerian Bar Association.
Therefore, the petition was adjourned till February 23, 2021, for mention to enable the petitioner to obtain the services of a pro bono counsel and to also issue fresh hearing notice to the respondent.
Meanwhile, the case filed by the New Covenant Church against Unknown protesters was struck out as the petitioner’s representative, Rev Alabi, said that the petitioner is no longer interested in prosecuting the petition.
After hearing all 13 cases, the Chairman of the panel, Hon. Justice B. O. Adeniji reaffirmed that the panel is not expected to pass a judgement concerning any of the petitions but that recommendations would be made to the governor at end of the sitting, and he will reach out to the petitioners afterwards.
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