•Pledges to put in his best to achieve the set out objectives of the panel
President of human rights and civil group, International Solidarity for Peace and Human Rights Initiative (IS4-PHRI), Comrade Osmond Ugwu has been appointed member of the recently constituted judicial panel of inquiry by the Enugu State government to look into residents’ complaints of police brutality.
Journalist101 had earlier reported that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday, inaugurated an 8-man Judicial Panel of Inquiry to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality and/or related extra-judicial killings in the state.
Ugwuanyi while addressing the protesting youths last Saturday, disclosed that his administration had set up the panel as part of the measures to address the concerns and demands of the protesters.
According to the governor, “the consitution of the judicial panel was in compliance with the directive of the National Economic Council that a state level judicial panel of inquiry be established in all states of the Federation and Federal Capital Territory to receive and investigate complaints of the Police brutality and other related extra-judicial killings with the view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved Special Anti-Robby Squad (SARS) and other Police Units.”
Ugwu’s appointment came as part of the specification by the National Economic Council that the constitution of the 8-man panel must engage the services of two members of the civil society group.
Acknowledging his appointment, Ugwu appreciated the governor “for appointing me to such sensitive and challenging task,” vowing to work together in his best capacity with other members of the panel to ensure that the purpose for which the panel was established is fully actualized to the satisfaction of all concerned parties.
“I also wish to use this opportunity to solicit for the full support of all the critical stakeholders, especially the media, civil society organisations, churhes, Nigeria Bar Association, Labour Unions, Market Associations, Road Transport Union, Town Unions, Traditional Rulers, Legal Aid Council, Student Unions, etc, towards the success of our work by first of all assist in the propagation of information about the existence and the will-be benefits of the judicial panel to their members, all and sundry to enable the real victims of brutality come up and present their case(s) to the panel,” he posited.
Ugwu was appointed alongside Prof. Joy Ezilo, the Founding Director of Women’s Aid Collective (WACO) to represent the civil society in the panel.
