
SEPTEMBER 6th 2018 PRESS RELEASE
Police and National Human Rights Commission Inaugurate Panels to Achieve Predetermined Outcomes
The #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG Movement received with shock, media reports today, September 5, 2018 of the inauguration of a seven-man Special Investigative Panel by the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr Tony Ojukwu, to look into the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police and make recommendations for its reform. The commission also requested members of the public to forward memoranda of their complaints to the Special Panel of Investigation.
Reports quoted a statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the Commission saying the investigative panel was inaugurated in line with the directive by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo. While acting as the President during President Muhammadu Buhari’s 10-day vacation in the United Kingdom, last month, The Vice President expressed concerns about widespread public outcry over allegations of human rights abuses leveled against SARS and then ordered the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, to reform the SARS while directing the NHRC to investigate the activities of the notorious Police unit and make recommendations on how to reform it.
According to the commission’s statement, members of the panel included;
- the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Mr Tony Ojukwu;
2. representative of the Police Service Commission, Mr Tijani Mohammed;
3. representative of Public Service Commission, Mr David I. Shagba;
4. a representative of civil society, Mr Chino Obiagwu;
5. a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Hashimu Argungu;
6. an independent expert on policing, Prof Etannibi Alemika and
7. The seventh member, also from the NHRC, Mr Abdulrahman Yakubu, who is the secretary of the panel.
The #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG is concerned and alarmed about the composition of the panel and its selection process which was not preceded by consultation with critical stakeholders, including the #EndSARS movement and other active civic right groups, whose sustained and vigorous campaigns against human rights atrocities by SARS resulted in the Presidency’s intervention.
Our major concern is the composition of the panel, which is all men without a single woman and its being heavily tilted in favour of the establishment. Except for one civil society member, other members are persons associated with government. This clearly robs the panel of the key ingredients of independence and credibility vital for its outcome to be meaningful and popularly acceptable.
How the NHRC, a body established by the Constitution to promote and defend human rights, including the right of women to equal representation arrived at this sore point, beats our imagination. This gaffe is probably a pointer to the lack of deep reflection by the NHRC deciding on the composition of the panel and excluding those whose courageous and patriotic campaign pushed the presidency to direct the commission to set up the panel.
One of the consequences of this action is that the outcome of the work of the panel is pre-predetermined. The proceedings will not also benefit from the experience and input of critical stakeholders; it will not be dispassionate and balanced and will ultimately not result to positive outcomes. We contend that it is therefore dead on arrival.
We note the desire of the Nigeria Police to reform SARS, but we reject the way it inaugurated its overhaul of SARS Committee without independent civil society organisations and victims groups represented in the Committee. We believe that the trust deficit the police suffer today in our country, without the independent and credible assessments of groups not beholden to the hierarchy of the Nigeria Police, makes the steps it have taken exercises in futility.
In light of the foregoing, we regret to inform all and sundry, that the #ENDSARS #ReformPoliceNG Movement will not be taking part in the hearings of the Presidential Panel of the National Human Rights Commission, or further engage the Committee of the Police on the Overhaul of SARS. Instead, we have instructed our lawyers to head to the regular courts to seek justice for the over four thousand victims of SARS, on whose behalf we begun the struggle a little over a year ago. No matter how long it takes us, victory is certain. The struggle continues.
For The #ENDSARS #ReformPoliceNG Movement:
Segun Awosanya, Convener.
2) Nelson Olanipekun, Citizens Gavel
3) Juliet Kego Ume-Onyido, Social Justice Advocate — (iSERVE2050)
4) ABDUL Mahmud, Lead Attorney #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG/Public Interest Lawyers League (PILL)
5) Adebayo Raphael, Our Mumu Don Do
