By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe on Monday received the report of the Justice David Wyom-led Commission of Inquiry into Acts of Police Brutality in Kaduna State.
Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, received the submission of the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into acts of brutality by Police personnel in Kaduna State at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, on Monday December 13, 2021.
She expressed pleasure to receive the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into acts of brutality by Police personnel in Kaduna State.
“However, when we inaugurated this Commission on 19th October 2020, it was done in response to serious concerns about police accountability expressed across the country,” she said.
Hadiza noted that, “you will recall that the Federal and state governments endorsed the demand for reforms to policing.
“Therefore, the 36 state governors agreed under the auspices of the National Economic Council to establish judicial commissions of inquiry into acts of police brutality in every state.
“The Kaduna State Government complied with this agreement and appointed this commission to help in establishing accountability for unlawful conduct by police personnel and to create a platform for victims and their families to receive redress for their pain and loss.
“Apart from the work of the Commission of Inquiry, the country needs to resolve the constitutional arrangement for policing, especially its funding, governance, training and professionalism and the welfare of its personnel.
“Every state government is aware of the prevailing anomaly in policing: the deployment in all the states of police officers controlled by the Federal Government but whose operations are funded by state governments.
“As recommended by the APC Committee of The Federalism chaired by our Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, it is time to devolve policing powers and institute the necessary safeguards for lawful conduct and the protection of human rights.
“The crisis of policing remains a national emergency, it is in the interest of everyone that our country builds an efficient police force, large enough to be effective, sufficiently decentralised to understand the terrain and build local support, properly trained, equipped and resourced for the job and operating with the highest regard for the law and rights and dignity of citizens.
“As I receive this report, I wish to register the gratitude of the Kaduna State Government, to Hon. Justice David Shiri Wyom and the seven other members of this Commission of Inquiry for their service,” she said.
She assured that government will study the report and its recommendations and issue a White Paper.
While presenting it’s report on behalf of the members of the Judicial Panel, Chairman, Justice David wyom (rtd), said a total of 64 petitions where filed.
According to him, by the above, a total of 19 petitions were terminated before taking of evidence commenced.
He explained that, at the end, the panel heard a total of 43 petitions after evaluating the evidence and considering the exhibit tendered and admitted.
We recommend the payment of compensation in respect to 23 petitions in the total sum of N271,500.00 million for deaths, injuries, permanent incapacitation.
“Recommend for the prosecution of some erring Police Officers, the compliance by the Police of rulings and orders of the High Courts.
“We plead with government at Federal, State to assist in directing the Police to release corpses of persons they deposited in the mortuary to relatives.
” Petitioners for burial as these people cannot afford the bill charged by the hospitals and for the fact that it was the Police who deposited same”.
According to him, “the expeditious investigation of some cases are still under investigation by the Police. Seven petitions were dismissed for lacking in merit.
“Before you are four volumes of the record of proceedings of all the sitting of this panel and copies of the main report.
“The panel also expresses its gratitude to Kaduna State Government for the opportunity to serve the state and also all stakeholders, other security personnel.
” It is our hope that the recommendations and compensations in this report will be implemented to assuage those affected,” he hoped.
It would be recalled that the Panel was inaugurated by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe on October, 19, 2020 and given a period of six months to submit its report which it later sought for extension.
