#ENDSARS PROTEST: ANAMBRA INAUGURATES PANEL OF INQUIRY

Reporter: ONYINYE CHIJIOBI

A thirty-two man Judicial panel of inquiry into the allegations of extra-judicial killings of defunct SARS, police brutality and other public complaints against the Nigeria Police Force has been inaugurated in Anambra State.

Inaugurating the panel at the Exco Chamber Government House Awka, Governor Willie Obiano said that the panel would be open for members of the public to lay their complaints.

Governor Obiano while discribing the Chairman of the panel as woman of impeccable character, charged them to critically look at of all incidences of human rights abuses and extra judicial killings perpetrated by the members of the defunct SARS.

While saying that the panel had one month to carry out its assignment, Governor Obiano urged them to come up with recommendations that would solve the the agitations of the youths.

The Governor reeled out the terms of reference of the panel, which included to receive all complaints of police brutality relating to torture, high-handedness and alleged extra judicial killing by the defunct SARS, and recommend appropriate sanctions as well as proffer solutions.

The Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. UJu Nwogu, expressed joy that the report of the panel would help find solution to the problems being faced by the people from the police.

The Chairman of the Judicial panel, retired Justice Vivian Umeh, who commended the Governor for the confidence reposed in her and the members promised to carry out the assignment with utmost sincerity.

Retired justice Umeh, who appealed to the Governor to extent the period of the panel for better result, commended him for the prompt action taken in to addressing the demands of Anambra youths.

Radio Nigeria observed that the Judicial Panel of Inquiry immediately swung into action after its Inuguration.