SOJI AJIBOLA, IBADAN
Oyo Judicial Panel of Inquiry on police brutality, victimization and other related matters, on Tuesday, commenced hearing with the mentioning of ten cases. T
The panel was set up by Governor Seyi Makinde to look into cases of police brutality and victimization.
Chairman of the panel, Hon. Justice Basdejoko Adeniji (retd), in his inaugural address, assured members of the public that justice would be served without fear or favour.
She, therefore, implored petitioners, respondents and legal experts to be prepared to handle their petitions expeditiously and with diligence, submitting that the panel has a limited time frame within which to submit its report to the state government for consideration and implementation.
Justice Adeniji equally urged the Police to, as a matter of necessity, cooperate with the panel by participating in the proceedings.
According to her, “I implore all players in the field to be prepared to handle their petitions with diligence and expeditiously as the Panel has a limited time within which to submit its report to the government for consideration and implementation.”
Earlier, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ibadan branch, Mr. Yinka Esan, commended the governor for setting up the Judicial Panel of Inquiry with the immediate past Chief Judge of the state, Hon. Justice Adeniji, and the immediate past Chairman of the NBA Ibadan branch, Prof.Oluwole Akintayo and other notable personalities.
According to him, it was resolved that the NBA, being a stakeholder, must play an important role in a matter of public interest such as this.
He said, “Immediately the governor set up this panel, we sent out notices to our members to indicate interest in providing pro bono services to members of the public, who are desirous of presenting a petition, but do not have the technical and financial means to achieve the goal.
“We have also sent the names of our members who shall be serving as observers to the Secretariat of the Panel and those that are willing to provide service pro bono.”