The Osun state judicial panel of inquiry into the human rights abuses allegedly committed by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) officers has reacted to #EndSARS protesters’ allegation that the panel is populated by persons of questionable characters.
The Secretary to the panel who is a Director of Public Prosecutions in Osun, Mrs Adekemi Bello, while Speaking with News Boom on the telephone described the opinion of the protesters as baseless and untrue.
Bello said the panel’s constitution followed due process and that it’s peopled with personalities with integrity.
She said the panel was still expecting petitions from members of the public and that it was false that it has been meeting secretly as alleged by the protesters.
Also speaking with News Boom on the telephone on Monday, a member of the panel, Mr Ismail Abdul Aziz (Youth, Chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria) said Mr Olawale Bakare (Mandate) who made the allegation on behalf of the protesters wanted to lord his selfish interest on the movement against police brutality in the state.
He dismissed allegation that the panel was fraudulent in their dealings since its inauguration saying that the panel was carefully selected.
Aziz accused Bakare of planning to lure youths who participated in the genuine protest into #RevolutionalNow movement of Omoyele Sowore but was rejected.
The panel member who is part of the youths that were appointed, said the committee was ready to discharge its duties fairly and justly.
According to him, “I am privileged to be one of the leaders of the #EndSARS protest in Osun state and I didn’t even know how I was appointed to join the panel.
“Bakare and other Revolution Now agitators wanted to overshadow every other protester and make us compromise on the genuine demands which had been taken up by the state government. Our demands had been met by the state government and during our meetings, we agreed to suspend the protests to enable government implement our demands fully.
“Bakare was also part of the meeting that agreed that the protest be suspended and I know he is not happy that some of us were appointed into the panel to represent youths.”
Bakare, the spokesperson for the protesters had rejected the constitution of the panel and called for its review. He alleged they the panel had been meeting secretly.
