The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for SARS-related abuses and other matters yesterday awarded N19,250,000.00 as compensation to six victims of police brutality.
Among the recipients is a 14-year-old boy, Ayomide Oyewunmi whose case was presented and argued by his lawyer, Mr. Kayode Bankole leading his lawyer daughter, seun kemi Bankole and Denald Olaleye (miss).
Other petitioners awarded compensation are Akinmade Akinrolabu, Sanusi Oluwakemi, Patrick Ochemu, Adesina Adeosun and Oluwatosin Temitope.
Doris Okuwobi, chairperson of the panel, gave the ruling and presented the cheques to the victims, on Friday.
The panel awarded the sum of N10 million to Adeosun; N3 million to Ochemu; Temitope received N3 million; N1.5 million was awarded to Akinrolabu; Oyewunmi received N1 million, while N750,000 went to Oluwakemi.
Ayomide Oyewunmi, 14, got N1million following the trauma he suffered while being handcuffed by some police officers around Ajah area of the state.
Oyewunmi, had through his lawyer, Mr. Kayode Bankole demanded financial compensation of N25 million.
Bankole had told the panel that some police officers attached Inspector General intelligence Unit allegedly invaded his residence and handcuffed his 14-year-old son.
He told the panel that it took instructions from some authorities for the officers not to detain his son, adding that Ayomide was traumatised over the encounter with the police.
In it’s ruling, the panel ruled that the 14-year-old was subjected to fear and exposed to danger and is entitled to compensation and apology from the police.
The family of Adeosun had appeared before the panel to narrate how police officers attached to Olosan police station in Mushin axis of the state allegedly shot Adesina, who was a taxi driver.
The family said the deceased was shot at Fan Milk junction, around Mushin axis of Lagos, on October 20, 2020, during the #EndSARS protest.
Also, a relative of the late Adeshina Adeosun received N10 million compensation on behalf of their family.
His daughter, Funmilayo, who witnessed how her father was fatally shot by the Police, told the panel in February that his body was also seized by the Police attached to the Olosan station in Mushin.
Mrs Okwuobi ordered the Lagos Police to provide the deceased’s remains for burial.
She advised that the Nigerian police officers be trained on how to handle a crowd and a riotous situation.
The panel was set up by the Lagos government in the wake of the #EndSARS protest in October 2020, to probe cases of police brutality in the state.
It was provided with a N200million kitty.
The judicial panel was set up by the Lagos government in the wake of the #EndSARS protest in October 2020, to probe cases of police brutality in the state.
