By Ayo Kehinde
President Buhari receiving the 2804- page report from Mr Anthony Ojukwu, Chairman of the Presidential panel on SARS Reform
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendation of the Presidential Panel on Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Reform, for the dismissal of 37 police officers from the Nigeria Police Force.
Mr Anthony Ojukwu, Chairman of the panel stated in a statement on Monday after leading its members to submit the panel’s report to the President in Aso Villa, Abuja, on Monday, said the panel also made some far reaching recommendations for a brand, new police force in the country.
The panel also recommended 24 officers for prosecution.
Ojukwu who is also the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights said the panel received 113 complaints on alleged human rights violations from across the country and 22 memoranda on suggestions on how to reform and restructure SARS and the Police in general.
These recommendations came, according to him; “At the end of its public hearing and having listened to complaints as well as defendants and their counsel.”
He said: “The panel also directed the Inspector General of Police to unravel the identity of twenty two (22) officers involved in the violation of the human rights of innocent Citizens.
“The police was directed to pay compensation of various sums in forty—five (45) complaints and tender public apologies in five (5) complaints and directed to obey court orders in five (5) matters.
“The Police was directed to immediately arrest and prosecute two (2) retired senior Police officers found to have violated the rights of citizens (one for extra-judicial killing and the other for illegal takeover of Property of a suspect). The Panel also recovered two vehicles illegally auctioned by SARS Officers and returned them to their owners.”
Some other key recommendations of the Panel include,” significant improvement in the funding, kitting and facilities of the Nigeria Police Force; Strengthening Information and Communication Technology of the Force; Establishment of State and local government Police.”
Buhari then directed the Inspector General of Police, Ministry of Justice and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to work out modalities for the implementation of the 2804 report of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), within three months.
The President gave the directive while receiving the 2804 page-report from the Panel headed by Tony Ojukwu, Executive Secretary, NHRC, at the State House.
Responding, President Buhari said, among others; ‘‘I want to thank the Panel once more, and hereby direct that since the recommendations of the Commission that constituted the Panel are enforceable as decisions of the Court, that the Inspector General of Police and the Solicitor General of the Federation/Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice meet with the Commission to work out the modalities for the implementation of the Report within 3 months from today’,” according to a statement by Attah Esa, Deputy Director (Information)
