A group, Victims of Police Brutality and Extra Judicial Killings, Abia State chapter has appealed to governor Alex Otti, to facilitate the payment of compensation to the tune of N51 million to its members.
The spokesperson for the group Dr. Ositadinma Nwabuko, made the appeal in Umuahia, the state capital, on Monday, reminding the governor that the money was approved for 46 members of the group whose properties were destroyed by the police.
He explained that the compensation was approved by a panel of inquiry set up by the state government to investigate police brutality and extra judicial killings in year, 2020 shortly after the end SARS protest.
Nwabuko revealed that all the victims suffered various levels of brutality in the hands of police that led to the loss of their relatives and properties.
He said, “In the year 2020 when Nigerians were brutalized by the police in various parts of the country, the Federal Government gave a directive to the states to set up a panel of inquiry to ascertain the magnitude of the cases towards compensation of the victims.
“The panel set up by the Abia State Government was under the chairmanship of the retired Justice Sunday Imo, Mrs Uzo Ikonne, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice who served as the secretary with other 17 members.
“The panel deliberated over 86 cases of which 46 cases were found to have merit. The report and its recommendations were submitted to the former governor Okezie Ikpeazu for implementation.
“The matter was still pending when the elections came on.
The victims worked assiduously and tirelessly praying for the success of Governor Alex Otti. We were confident that he would ensure our compensation.
“To the glory of God he came on board. But it has since been near impossible to reach your Excellency on our matter.
“We have done several correspondences through the Secretary to the State Government, the Attorney General, Chief of Staff to Governor, Secret Registry Government House Umuahia,
Protocol office Government House, Chief Security Officer Government House and through her Excellency Mrs Chidinma Otti when we were informed she was in town.
“All these efforts are for us to have an audience with the governor, hence this appeal.
“We appeal that the governor should direct the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice to make available to his Excellency copy of the panel report and its recommendations for your kind intervention. He has been our hope before he came on board and now that he is on board, he is still our hope.”
Nwabuko lamented that many of the victims are very sick, some have died, while some are still in the mortuary unable to be buried by their families for lack of funds.
punch.ng
FOLLOW US ON:
