Connect with us

Politics

Ekiti Govt pledges N7.2m in compensation to #EndSARS victims

Published

on

Kayode Fayemi

The Ekiti Government has pledged to pay N7.2 million in compensation to 24 petitioners, Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda, has said.

Fapohunda made this known during a visit to the panel sitting in Ado Ekiti, on Friday, February 19.

Ripples Nigeria had reported on December 30, 2020, that the panel recommended the amount as compensation to some victims who complained about different forms of injustices and destruction to their properties during the October 2020 #EndSARS protests.

”Gov. Kayode Fayemi will not wait until the panel submits its final report before processing the implementation of the recommendations.

”The compensation which will be paid within the next 14 days. We are happy to announce today that the process has begun. We are renewing our process to strengthening our Departments to respond to Human Rights Violations, the Governor has also directed a holistic review of our Criminal Laws to review the cases of victims of our Criminal Justice System”.

READ MORE: FG, governors working on procurement of COVID-19 vaccines – Fayemi

“The State executive council have approved the Ekiti victim charter Bill for onward transmission to the House of Assembly”, he stressed further.

”The Executive Council has approved the payment of compensations so far in the ongoing inquiry to 24 petitioners recommended by the panel to receive N7.2million which includes seven Police Officers who suffered losses in the course of their duty,” he said.

Responding, the Chairman of the Panel, Rtd Justice Cornelius Akintayo, said that the panel received 85 petitions between November 2, 2020, and December 1, 2020.

Justice Akintayo said 24 petitions were struck out, or inadmissible for lack of jurisdiction, lack of diligent prosecution, and withdrawal of petitions by petitioners.

He said 27 recommendations have been issued while eleven (11) petitions are still on-going for trial.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now