Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry for Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and the Lekki Tollgate Incident has urged victims of last week Tuesday’s shooting of #EndSARS protesters by members of the Nigerian Army to come forward with their petitions.


Speaking at its inaugural sitting, its chairperson, Justice Doris Okuwobi, Rtd, said the judicial panel has so far received fifteen petitions from abuse victims of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.


She said the panel is independent of the Lagos State Government and will ensure that individuals with valid complaints of human rights violations will receive immediate compensation.


According to her, if their cases are disposed of in a month or two, compensation if recommended should go to the victims immediately to assuage their pain.


She says the panel is looking forward to memoranda from those affected by the unfortunate incident of the shooting at the Lekki Tollgate plaza by the military.


In her words, the panel has received not less than fifteen petitions relating to the disbanded SARS.


According to her, they are indeed ready to commence the public sitting, saying the petitions are here without the petitioners around, the panel will start full proceedings tomorrow.


She says they are relying on the civil society to assist the panel with credible evidence of the killings at the Lekki Tollgate Plaza.


Justice Okuwobi says this is to ensure there will be good evidence to assist the panel make appropriate recommendations in respect of all terms of reference of the panel.


She said the panel could not begin proceedings immediately because the nominations for the two youth representatives who are to sit as part of the eight-man panel was sent in late.


According to her, the two nominated youth representatives had not yet been sworn-in and could not join the panel for today’s proceedings.


The retired Justice believes the panel will most definitely sit tomorrow because they would have been sworn-in and the composition will be complete.


President of Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata who was present at the proceedings said the Association will be partnering with the judicial panel and will also be providing pro bono services to affected victims.


He says the Association is willing to help victims of the now disbanded SARS and other human rights violations to properly articulate their petitions to the panel pro bono, as this will be done in Lagos and around the country.


According to him, the Association will participate in observatory capacity to ensure all goes well and ensure justice is actually served, saying their best hands will be available throughout the sittings of the panel.


He says they will look forward to justice being done and the recommendations of the panel for those who have been badly treated by institutions that have been set up to protect them.


The panel is made up of the Chairman Justice Doris Okuwobi (Rtd), Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ebun Adegboruwa, Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police and a founding member of SARS, Taiwo Lakanu.


Other panelists are Director, Lagos State Directorate of Citizen’s Rights, Oluwatoyin Odusanya and Patience Udoh, a representative of the civil society groups and Segun Awosanya, segalink, a human rights activist.


The panel is to sit from 10am to 4pm for six months.


The designated sitting days are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at the Lagos Court of Arbitration, No 1A, Remi Oluwode Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.