Governor of the State of Osun, Mr Gboyega Oyetola on Thursday inaugurated the judicial panel of enquires into the human rights abuse of the operatives of disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
The panel was inaugurated at the State Government House, Osogbo on Thursday.
The panel is to be chaired by Justice Akin Olademeji, a retired judge of the state high court, who the Director of Public Prosecution of the state, Mrs Kemi Bello will serve as secretary.
Other members of the panel are Mr Abiodun Layonu SAN, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun (representative of the academics); Ismail Abdulazeez, representing the youth; Grace Akinola; Abayomi Ogundele of the human rights commission.
Others are a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Jide Akano;
Jumoke Ogunkeyede, Teslim Salahudeen (NAOSS president), Oluwasegun Idowu and AbdulRahman Okunade.
In his address, Governor Oyetola said the inauguration of the panel was in line with the federal government mandate given to all states and in fulfilment of the promise he made on Saturday while he was addressing the protesters at Olaiya junction in Osogbo.
“The setting up of this Judicial Panel of Inquiry is in keeping with Section 21 of the Commission of Inquiry Law Cap 29. Laws of Sate of Osun 2002 and in line with the directive of the Federal Government to all the 36 Governors of the State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Temtory
“Inaugurating the Panel today further validates one key attribute to which this Administration has been known for since it came on board about two years ago keeping faith with promises made
“Recall that last Saturday while addressing the protesters at Olaiya. I did promise that this Panel would be inaugurated this week thank God I am alive to carry on with this inauguration But for providence, I probably would not have been alive to perform this function today following the attempt on my life at that event Let me reterate that we are committed to the cause of our youths and the genuine #EndSARS protesters and shall do everything to ensure that their demands are met I commend our youths who had engaged in peaceful protest for the first two days before it was hijacked The looting of the Osun Mall Orisunbare market and the attempt on my life could not have been camed out by our youths, who are the genuine protesters
“Security of lives and property is the primary purpose of government and the Police constitute one of the critical branches of the executive charged with ensuring the achievement of this responsibility. It is therefore, strange and absolutely unacceptable that those charged to protect with integrity will become an embarrassment to their calling.
The governor also promised that the recommendation of the panel shall be implemented to letters, calling of protesters to leave the street as their agitation shall not be in vain.
“Let me appeal to our youths, who are genuine protesters to give us a chance to run through this process by suspending their street protests. This, government believes will aid the security operatives to rid our state of miscreants who have hijacked the protests for other pecuniary gains.
In his acceptance message, the chairman of the panel, Justice Akin Oladimeji promised that the panel shall within the mandate given to them execute the assignment with judiciously.
He said the panel shall be fair to everyone at all circumstances.
Present at the inauguration ceremony were the Deputy Governor, Benedict Alabi; Secretary to the State Government, Wole Oyebamiji; Chief of Staff, Charles Akinola; Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Femi Akande and Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo.
