Release #EndSARS Panel Report Submitted Over 3 Months Ago – TakeItBack Movement Charges Delta Governor, Okowa

Take It Back (TIB), a pro-democracy and human rights group, has asked the governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa to reveal the content of the #EndSARS report submitted by the state judicial panel of inquiry over police brutality and extrajudicial killings in the state.

The group urged the state government to implement the recommendations of the panel, which it had received over three months ago.

The State Coordinator of the group, Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho noted that the contents of the report should be made public rather than kept secret.

He noted that failure to disclose the contents of the report to the public will undermine transparency and accountability.

In a statement obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, Aghogho described #ENDSARS as a public decentralised social movement.

The statement read, "We are by this press statement demanding from the Governor of Delta State, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa to make available to the public the Delta State #ENDSARS Panel Report submitted to him for implementation by the Chairman of the Judicial Panel of inquiry, Justice Celestina Ogisi (Rtd.) for over three months now.

"Recalling that the Panel was inaugurated on October 9, 2020, to receive and inquire into complaints of police brutality and extra-judicial killings in the state, evaluate the evidence presented and draw conclusions as to the validity of the complaint(s) and recommend compensation and other remedial measures.

"The Panel received a total of 86 petitions and 49 were heard on merit while 37 were struck out for various reasons. The Panel also received 10 petitions which sought the enforcement of judgements of various High Courts of the State against the Police for acts of Police brutality and extra-judicial killings.

"The Panel recommended the payment of compensation to victims and/or their families for various acts of police brutality and extra-judicial killings in Delta State.

"The Panel also recommended the enforcement of all judgement debts awarded against the Police, which they have refused to obey till date.

"We have only read from the media recently that the Delta State Governor inaugurated a committee for the protection of Human Rights.

"It was claimed, the Governor heads the committee as recommended by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry that investigated complaints of Police brutality and extra-judicial killings in the state.

"We further gathered that the Governor-led committee would ensure implementation of the panel’s reports, assuage the hurt of victims, and design a new template for police-citizen relations in Delta State.

"Our case is that the respected and appreciated Governor and his led Committee (members) should not be the only persons privy to the content of the #ENDSARS Panel Report in the interest of transparency and accountability as it appears the whole exercise as it relates to the #ENDSARS Panel report is being shrouded and cloaked in secrecy.

"It should be noted at this juncture, the #ENDSARS is a public decentralised social movement, and series of mass protests against police brutality in Nigerian including Delta State and was accompanied by vociferous outrage on social media platforms.

"About 28 million tweets bearing the hashtag have been accumulated on Twitter alone.

"Solidarity protests and demonstrations by Nigerians in the diaspora and sympathisers occurred in many major cities of the world. The protest was publicised and is notable for its patronage by a demographic that is made of entirely young Nigerians.

"It is our submission the #ENDSARS Panel Report in Delta State should be made public."