Ex-Chief Judge vows to prosecute violators of human rights in Ebonyi

The Chairman of the Judicial Panel on human right violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), in Ebonyi State, Justice Alloy Nwankwo, on Monday, has vowed to ensure that any security officer or agencies that violated rights of citizens in the state are prosecuted without fear or favour.

Justice Nwankwo, the former Chief Judge of the state, made this known during the Panel’s inaugural sitting in Abakaliki, the state capital.

He assured of the panel’s commitment to look into all cases of police brutality, human rights violations or related extra-judicial killings that took place in the state.

The chairman revealed that the panel has so far received five petitions from the public.

Justice Nwankwo noted further that the panel will commence hearing into the cases immediately.

He said that the panel was presently serving all parties involved to avoid infringing on people’s rights, noting that its sitting days will be announced in due course.

“We seek the cooperation of everybody in effectively and efficiently discharging this assignment as the panel has a friendly atmosphere that allows the public to present their cases,” Nwankwo stated.

He said that the panel will give the public unfettered right to speak about their experiences in the hands of security agencies, to enable them to make their findings and recommend appropriately.

“Nigerian citizens enjoy many rights but the inalienable, fundamental rights of citizens are statute-protected by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

He pledged that in determining the cases presented before it, the panel will ensure restitution to those whose fundamental human rights have been or were violated by security agents in the state, adding that “the panel had several meetings in order to discuss the modus operandi in hearing of petitions/complaints before it.”

The panel, he said, also resolved to observe all rules of natural justice and accord all parties equal opportunities of hearing.