Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), a right group, has faulted the timeframe and rigorous processes involved in submission of petitions to the judicial panel of inquiries setup by various states to consider reports of extra judicial killings and others allegedly perpetrated by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
RULAAC, which recalled that the Federal Executive Council and the State Governors set up Judicial Panels of Inquiry aftermath of the #ENDSARS protests by youth across the country, described the timeframe as being short and demanded for an extension of date to enable victims present their petitions.
According to the Executive Director of RULAAC, Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma, “We also note that the time given to victims or their representatives for submission of petitions and the time given to some of the state panels to conclude their work are too short to allow as many of the victims as possible the opportunity to submit petitions and seek justice.
“For example, we have seen the Anambra State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Extrajudicial Killings and Other Related Matters: Call for Submission of Petitions, Complaints and Memoranda. The Anambra panel was inaugurated on Tuesday, October 20. The Secretariat requires all submissions to be made within two weeks of the publication of the call. 7 days have already gone and many victims are still putting together their submissions, which requires swearing of affidavit. The panel has 1 month from the date of its inauguration to submit report to the state government.
“Nine days have gone and virtually extinguished by the respective curfews imposed by state governors in their states, which make it impossible for petitioners and victims to access courts to depose to affidavits verifying the facts stated in their respective petitions. We call for extension of time to allow as many victims as possible to utilize this opportunity. Giving short duration for the submission and for the conclusion of work by the panels would be like placing obstacles to justice.
“Further, some of the conditions attached to the submission of memoranda or petitions are too cumbersome, complicated and prohibitive for majority of the victims who are poor. The requirement by some states to submit 15 copies is needless. We believe that the Secretariats can receive one copy and make duplicates as they may require. Provisions for online submissions should also be prioritized. We must remove conditions that place obstacles to justice.”
He further called on civil society organizations championing the cause for years to assist as many victims as possible to derive maximum benefit from the opportunity.
