ENDSARS# Police brutality; Committee receives six petitions in Kogi.

AbdulAhad Otuoze
The Human Rights Special Intervention Group (HRSIG) in Kogi says it has received six petitions and complaints on all human right violations by the Law Enforcement Agencies.
The Chairman of HRSIG committee in Kogi, Barr. Ibrahim Alhassan, disclosed this at a Public Hearing on ENDSARS# Protest, Complaints and Petitions on Human Rights Violations and Brutality By Law Enforcement Agencies, held on Tuesday in Lokoja.
The HRSIG committee was constituted by Kogi State Government through the office of the Public Defender and Citizens Rights Commission (PDCRC).
Alhassan noted that the committee had gone round since it was inaugurated to synergize with the media to sensitise the people to submit their petitions on all human rights violations.
He said that the committee had received six petitions, which was why the committee had called for public hearing to hear those petitions from the petitioners.
He stressed that the committee was still open to receiving more complaints on human rights violations, and urged the aggrieved residents of Kogi to come and submit their petitions.
He added that the Public hearing was to allow all petitioners to come forward and present their complaints before the committee while the law enforcement agencies would also be given the opportunity to give their own side of the story.
This, according to him, is to ensure that the preservation of the fundamental rights of citizens of the state as enshrined in the Constitution are maintained and sustained.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Chairman of Governing Council PDCRC, Barr. Muizudeen Abdullahi, said the public hearing was in line with the responsibility of government to preserve the sanctity of human person, maintain and enhance human dignity of every citizen as provided under Section 17(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
He explained that in the wake of ENDSARS protest in Nigeria, Governor Yahaya Bello, directed Kogi PDCRC to constitute HRSIG, to intervene, investigate and rapidly resolve complaints of brutalities by law enforcement agencies in the state.
He added that the HRSIG consisting of 10 members, was inaugurated on October 15, 2020 and its members were drawn from all relevant agencies based on their track records.
”The inauguration of the special intervention group was in response to the persistent violation of rights of Kogi residents and their inability to easily access justice.
”It is expedient to state that Kogi State was the first to set up such committee even before the president directed all states to so do.
”Kogi Government is among the few states that have established an office such as the PDCRC to inter alia: Provide legal aid and other services to citizens of the state most especially the indigents,
”To deal with all matters relating to the protection of human rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
”To assist victims of human rights violation and seek appropriate redress and remedies on their behalf, among others”, he said.
Abdullahi stressed that the Commission had zealously and judiciously carried out its functions as spelt out in the enabling law that established the commission which was assented to by the governor on June 3, 2019.
He added that the successes recorded so far by the commission, was as a result of the unfettered discretion, power and freedom granted to the Commission by the governor, and the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ibrahim Sani Muhammed, SAN.
He therefore, appreciated the state’s attorney general for his commitment and believe in the rule of law and order.
”We seek for the cooperation of all parties so as to enable a successful deliberation and resolution of all petitions presented before the committee.
”Petitioners are urged to present their complaints without any fear but courteously as they have the protection of the law, the State and the commission.
”The Respondents are also encouraged to participate with all civility so as to see that cases of brutalities and violations of rights are absolutely stamped out of the state.
He commended His Excellency for the initiative to set up the HRSIG as it shows the level of importance he placed on Human rights related issues in his administration.
”The Director General of the Commission, Barr. Abdullahi Zakari, is also well appreciated for working assiduously to see that the commission succeeds. My description of him is that of a right peg in the right hole”, he said.
The Chairman, NBA Lokoja Branch, Barr. Sam Owoyomi, who was represented by Barr. Muazu Abbas, delivered a lecture, titled: ”The State of Human Rights Promotion, Protection and Enforcement in Kogi State”.
Other stakeholders at the meeting were: the Police, NSCDC, Kogi VGS, FIDA, NGOs, among others.
One of the petitioners, who was represented by Elenimobuno and Associates, told the committee that his house was demolished by the dusbanded SARS on March 20, 2017, without the order of the court.
The petitioner said that his prayer was for him to be compensated for his house that was illegally demolished by the police, in Okehi Local Government Area of the state.