The Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, on Tuesday, set up a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate human rights abuses in the state.
The approval by the governor to set up the judicial panel followed the directive of the National Economic Council (NEC) for state governments to set up judicial panel of inquiry in their states to investigate abuses by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and various police brutalities across the country, which led to End SARS protests in parts of the country.
A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Governor Mohammed on Media, Muktar Gidado, made available to DAILY POST in Bauchi on Tuesday, informed that the panel of inquiry is to be chaired by a retired High Court judge, Justice Habibu Idris Shall, with 16 other members.
Members of the panel were drawn from civil society organizations (CSOs); Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ); women lawyers association; National Human Rights Commission, Bauchi State Office; Jama’atul Nasirul Islam (JNI); Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN); National Council of Women Society (NCWS) and National Youth Council of Nigeria, among others.
According to Gidado, a representative of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice is to serve as the secretary of the 17-member panel.
“Following protest by youth across the country against the recurring highhandedness of the SARS, leading the resolve of the Government to reform the Nigeria Police Force, His Excellency, Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, CON, the Executive Governor of Bauchi State has approved the setting up of a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to investigate human rights abuses in Bauchi State.
“The Committee has the following membership:- Justice Habibu Idris Shall (Rtd. High Court Judge) -Chairman; CP. Hamisu Makama (Rtd) Member; Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Bauchi State Chapter-Member; Barr. Jibrin S. Jibrin, Civil Society Groups, Bauchi State – Member; Representative of Human Rights Commission Bauchi State Office (NHRC) – Member; Representative of FIDA, Bauchi State Office -Member; Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bauchi State -Member; Representative of Jama’atul Nasirul Islam (JNI) Bauchi State Chapter-Member; Representative of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Bauchi State – Member; Representative of National Council of Women Society, Bauchi State (NCWS) – Member; Representative of National Youth Council of Nigeria Bauchi State – Member; Representative of NACCIMA, Bauchi State – Member; Representative of Miyetti Allah Kautel Hore, Bauchi State-Member; Representative of Miyetti Allah MACBAN, Bauchi State-Member; Representative of NURTW, Bauchi State – Member; Comrade Mohammed Nasiru Umar ATBU, representing NUBASS – Member; Representative of Attorney-General/Commissioner of Justice – Secretary,” Gidado stated.
According to him, “It is hoped that members of the committee will bring their wealth of knowledge and experience in the discharge of the committee’s assignment.”
He, then informed that the panel will be inaugurated on Wednesday, 28th October, 2020, Governor Mohammed at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Bauchi.
