Lagos state judicial panel on restitution for victims of SARS related abuses and other matters continued it’s sitting on Friday 19th February, 2021 by conducting hearings into 10 petitions.

In the first petition of the day involving Blessing Omorogie Esanbor vs the Nigeria police force, the reserved ruling to a date to be communicated to both counsels after the adoption of written addressees.

In the second petition of the day of Mrs. Tolulope Aminat Openiyi vs federal special anti robbery squad (FSARS), the panel also reserved ruling to a date to be communicated to both counsels after the adoption of written addressees.

In the third petition of the day involving Mr. Sikiru Bello Mabifa vs the Nigeria police force, the petitioner is before the panel over the misconduct and disrespect to constituted authority by police officers for pecuniary gain. Petitioner narrated how police officers connived with hoodlums and sold his land for 7 million naira and pocketed the money.

He wants the panel to help him recover the money and recommend that the police desist from issuing threat letters to him. The panel then adjourned the matter to 12th March, 2021.

In the fourth petition of the day involving Mr. Endurance Omonyahu & Mr. Sikiru Musa vs federal special anti robbery squad (FSARS), the petitioner is requesting that the panel recommends for compliance with court judgement by the Nigeria police force. The panel informs counsels that it will give a ruling on such cases by next week Tuesday and thus adjourned the matter to 27th February, 2021.

In the fifth petition of the day of Andrew Okoh & Isaac Adesanya vs the Nigeria police force, the petitioner narrated how as a commercial bus driver conveying passengers from Egbeda to Igando, he was hit by a bullet fired by a policeman Nelson Bassey at Car wash bus stop Egbeda, who then fled. He claimed that the policeman Nelson Bassey was dismissed, but later reinstated. The panel then adjourned the matter for further hearing to 5th March, 2021 at the respondent counsel instance.

In the sixth petition of the day involving Adelusi Oluwamurewa Andrew vs federal special anti robbery squad (FSARS), the panel struck out the petition due to lack of diligent prosecution by the petitioner who has repeatedly failed to show up.

In the seventh petition of the day of Lawrence Macaulay Okwaji vs federal special anti robbery squad (FSARS), the petitioner narrated how his son Eric Okwaji was arrested by SARS operatives on 17th day of September, 2014 at Ajegunle and all efforts to trace his whereabouts in SARS custody till date has proved abortive. The petitioner is demanding that SARS produce his son either dead or alive. The panel then adjourned the matter to 6th March, 2021 at the respondent counsel instance.

In the eight petition of the day involving Mrs. Ann Ebere Okpara vs Intelligence response team (IRT), the panel adjourned the matter to 6th of March 2021 at the petitioner instance.

The ninth petition of the day of Mrs. Victoria Oladotun vs federal special anti robbery squad (FSARS) was also adjourned to 12th March, 2021 at the petitioner instance and same fate befell the last petition of the day involving Mr. Lucky Igbinovia, Elvis Erenuma & Effiong Elemu Edu vs federal special anti robbery squad (FSARS) which was also adjourned to March 13th 2021 at the instance of the petitioner.

However the highlights of today’s sitting was the panel presentation of cheques to the tune of 10 million naira each in favour of Mrs. Hannah Olugbodi and Mr. Adebayo Abayomi against federal special anti robbery squad (FSARS) abuse. we recall that Mr. Adebayo Abayomi mother was killed by SARS operatives who fired indiscriminately at railway line Mushin Lagos, while Mrs. Hannah Olugbodi had her leg badly damaged and required funds for further surgery as a result of the indiscriminate shooting by SARS operatives at Ijesha.

The panel apart from the award of 10 million naira to the two victims, also recommended the prosecution of the erring policemen as well as the regular training of police officers in the handling of firearms among other recommendations.

It would be recalled that the panel at an earlier sitting had stated that she was going to implement recommendations on cases concluded on first come basis and that was exactly what transpired today Tuesday 19th February, 2021 at the panel sitting in Lagos.