A human rights activist, Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, has made a passionate appeal to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to urgently implement the Anambra State EndSars panel report.
It would be recalled that the EndSars panel report was submitted to former Governor Willie Obiano on March 15, 2022.
Anambra State government establish the panel and appointed Justice Veronica Umeh as chairman. The panel immediately swung into action and received 300 petitions, which was the highest in the country.
“The government’s non-implementation of the report remains consternation to the petitioners, victims, their legal representatives and Anambra residents,” Ezekwueme said in a statement on Thursday in Enugu.
He said that the panel thoroughly investigated and articulated all the petitions with patriotism and assiduously concluded its assignment and recommended N699,900,000 to 170 petitioners, whereas some petitions were dismissed due to lack of purview of terms of reference of the panel, jurisdiction or merits.
Ezekwueme, who was a member of the panel, noted that justice could only be served unless the unaffected are as outraged as those affected.
“It is on record that petitioners, victims, their loved ones and counsels are very inquisitive and eager to know how the victims will be compensated and perpetrators prosecuted to act as a deterrent to others.
“Unfortunately more than nine months after the report was submitted, government is yet to implement the EndSars panel report giving credence to speculation of people that it was a political statement to douse tension.
“Recall that the former administration of Chief Willie Obiano budgeted #300 million for compensation of victims and petitioners who suffered various forms of losses and damages as a result of police brutality.
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“They are looking forward to the implementation of EndSars panel report for succour and consolation to assuage their pathetic, devastating sufferings and losses incurred by the victims, petitioners and their loved ones,” he said.
The activist, who is also the Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), reminded Soludo that the implementation of EndSars panel report is a priority project that deserves urgent and immediate government attention.
According to him, as a state with the highest number of petitions; Nigerians, petitioners and the global community are eagerly looking forward to how the victims will be adequately compensated and perpetrators prosecuted to act as deterrents to others.
“Worthy of note is without payment of compensation to the petitioners the intention of government will be defeated, panel report becomes relentless efforts without effect and victims’ agony, pains and sorrow will exacerbate.
“Soludo should promptly do the needful to rescue the situation by paying compensation to the petitioners and save the image of the state, the Panel Chairman and members.
“I equally commend selfless services and sacrifices made by revered Hon. Justice Veronica Umeh and her panel in serving the state with greater interest of the people at heart,” he said.
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