The Ekiti State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Human Rights Violations has recommended over N1.5 million as compensation to six complainants who brought their cases before the panel.
The panel at its resumed sitting presided over by the Chairman, Justice Cornelius Akintayo in Ado-Ekiti recommended the payment of the total sum of N1,535,350 to six petitioners who complained about different forms of injustices and destruction to their properties during the last October EndSARS protests.
Justice Akintayo (rtd) who read out the recommendations said from the oral and documentary evidence of the complainants produced through exhibits tendered as well as visits to the locus, the panel was able to establish facts on each case and thus made appropriate recommendations
In the case of Inspector Omokhua Benjamin vs Unknown persons, the complainant in his evidence said that on 20th Oct 2020, he was on duty during the End SARS protest at the police station at Afao, Ikere-Ekiti when some youths numbering about 200 shouting End SARS slogans attacked the Police Station, burnt it down alongside his Golf 3 car valued at about N1.4 million.
He explained further that the hoodlums also stormed the police official quarters where he also lost his personal belongings in the mayhem
In it’s ruling on the matter, the panel recommended N400,000.00 as compensation for Omokhua’s Golf 3 car and N50,000.00 for the personal properties destroyed at the Afao police station official quarters, Ikere Ekiti.
However, the panel recommended that Omokhua obtain valid vehicle particulars as a condition for collecting the money’
Omokhua was, however, berated for using the vehicle for seven years without valid vehicle particulars.
The panel also recommended compensation of N400,000 for Inspector Yakubu Aminu in the case of Inspector Yakubu Aminu vs unknown Persons.
The panel explained that the recommended N400,000 compensation was for Aminu’s Golf 3 car with registration Number AG828KER which was burnt by the End SARS protesters within the premises of Afao Police Station, Ikere Ekiti, on 20th, Oct,2020.
In his evidence before the panel, Inspector Yakubu said he bought the vehicle for the sum of N550,000 and wanted the Government to pay N1.3 million to replace it.
After accessing the cost of the vehicle, the panel recommended a sum of N400,000 as compensation for the Police Inspector
However, the panel recommended that Inspector Yakubu also obtains valid particulars of the vehicle as a condition for collecting the recommended amount.
In the case of Olawale Adekola who said he is a Press Officer attached to the Ministry of Justice, the panel recommended compensation of N142,850 for the cost of speed light N75,000, repair of his camera N30,000 and cost of his medical treatment at N37,850.
Olawale had alleged in his evidence before the panel that he was stoned, robbed and humiliated at the House of Assembly Complex on 16th Oct 2020 by an angry mob during the End SARS protests.
Adekola during the presentation of his evidence said two camera lens valued at N690,000 and a photographic light costing N75,000 were stolen by the mob while he spent a sum of N57,850 on his medical treatment and a sum of N30,000 on the repair of the camera.
He said he wanted the government to assist him get the items back as the items were not insured.
Olawale requested for N833,350 noting that the damaged camera was owned by the Ekiti State Government.
However, the panel ruled that the complainant is not entitled to the cost of the 85mm Canon Camera put at N200, 000, and the cost of 70-30mm Canon camera put at N490,000 because both items are properties of Ekiti State, even though the complainant got the purchased receipt in his own name from his own admission.
In the case of Inspector Alabi Samuel and unknown persons, the panel recommended that the complainant be compensated with a sum of N170,000, for his stolen motorcycle put at N100,000 and other properties put at N70,000.
In his evidence before the panel, Inspector Alabi complained that youths numbering about a thousand attacked the Afao Police Station Ikere Ekiti where he was living at the staff quarters, during which his properties were burnt while some were carted away.
He testified that his motorcycle Number AKD645QB Lagos valued at N360,000 which was parked at the premises was stolen, with mattresses, standing fan, pressing iron, personal clothes, shoes and three police uniforms.
He also alleged that some documents including Police signals and receipts were also burnt.
The panel considered the fact before it and recommended the payment of a sum of N170,000 as compensation to the complainant, Inspector Alabi.
However, the Panel insisted that Inspector Alabi Samuel should be made to obtain current and valid particulars of the motorcycle as a condition for collecting the recommended compensation.
The panel then frowned at the police officer for riding his motorcycle for Seven years without valid current particulars.
Also, Sergeant Adesina Kolawole’s claims against unknown persons said he was on duty at the Nigeria Police station, Afao Ikere Ekiti, on the 20th, October 2020, parked his Golf 3 car with Registration No: AG40MUE under a tree at the station and the End SARS protesters destroyed the car valued at N400,000.
He said that they broke all the glasses valued at N70,000 and carted away the Car Tape with N15,000 and the battery N20,000 and broke the steering wheel valued at N20,000.
Kolawole claimed he spent N40,000 on Panel Beating and bodywork to put the car back on the road. Kolawole requested for a sum of N400,000 to repair the car.
The panel recommended that a sum of N130,000 be paid as compensation to the complainant but ruled that he should obtain current vehicle particulars as a condition for the recommended compensation.
The panel, however, frowned at the attitude of using his official position to ride his car for seven years without valid current vehicle particulars.
Other complainants were awarded conpensationsation in various amounts by the panel.
