The Independent Investigation Panel on allegations of human rights violations by the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, and other units of the Nigerian Police Force in Abuja resumed hearing after six months of break.
Families of victims can now breathe a sigh of relief as they can finally make demands to assuage their loss.
For the relatives of a late female corps member, Linda Igwetu, who was murdered allegedly by a policeman in Abuja, they are asking for 200 million Naira compensation to assuage their loss.
Their demand was contained in a written address submitted by the counsel for the investigative panel in Abuja.
But the counsel to the police argued that the matter is before the FCT High Court and as such, the panel lacks the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.
Twenty-three-year-old miss Igwetu was said to have been shot dead by one inspector Benjamin Peters in July 2018, a day after her passing out from the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
Out of the 296 petitions received by the 11-member panel, 55 have been concluded, 75 have partially been heard and 22 have either been struck out by the panel or withdrawn by the petitioners.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Panel ended its assignment one year after it was set up by awarding 148.2 million Naira as compensation to 24 petitioners, bringing the total amount awarded since the panel started sitting on October 26, 2020, to 410 million Naira to 71 petitioners.
The Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel received 255 petitions from members of the public out of which 252 were considered for hearing, and it was able to decide on 182 petitions.
