The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS ) related Abuses on Monday submitted a final report to State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Recall that Men of the Force had opened fire on protesters at the Lekki toll gate in the heat of the protests.
This led to the set up of the judicial panel to investigate petitions on police brutality in the state as part of recommendations during the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
The panel on Monday submitted two reports, including a report on police brutality cases and the Lekki incident investigation at the Government House, Ikeja, Lagos.
In its report, the panel discovered that the twelve persons were killed while scores of others sustained injuries at the toll gate, countering the claim of the Federal Government that security agents killed no one during the protest.
It, however, recommended that the Lekki tollgate be made a memorial site by renaming it to EndSARS tollgate while October 20th be made a toll-free day for the remembrance of “our falling youth.”
Chairperson of the panel, retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, said 186 of the 252 petitions presented were deliberated upon. It also revealed that about N409.7 million was awarded to 70 petitioners.
Receiving the reports from the seven-man panel Gov. Sanwo-Olu said it was the beginning of the “difficult process of proper reconciliation and restitution” as he commended the panel for their commitment and steadfastness.
The governor further assured that the recommendation would be made known to the general public and documented for the government’s record while hinting that the reports would be sent to the National Economic Council for consideration.
