NHRC Seeks Prosecution Of Indicted SARS Officers

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to commence prosecution of 35 officers of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police Force, over alleged human rights violations.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, made the charge on Monday while presenting a list of the said offenders to the AGF in Abuja.

Ojukwu, while disclosing that the list was an extract of the full report of the Special Presidential Panel on SARS earlier submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari in June last year, said that the submission was in line with the mandate of the panel.

READ ALSO: Three Brothers Nabbed For Gang-Raping A Teenager In Ogun State

According to the Executive Secretary, the list contained the names of all those indicted and should be prosecuted for various offences by the AGF.

He added that the report of the panel also contained the findings on the complaints gathered from Nigerians during its sitting in the six geopolitical zones of the country.

“We have also brought the original copy of the full report which will also guide the office of the Attorney-General in looking at the details for the required prosecution because the summary will not have all the documents.

“We brought the full set of the report which will guide the prosecuting officers.”

Ojukwu, however, appealed to the AGF to ensure that the federal government implements the panel’s recommendations.

Malami, in a remark, assured that his office would take all the necessary steps to ensure that justice is done to the list presented to him for prosecution.

Malami said, “We have a mandate to establish a constitutional order”, where the welfare and peaceful co-existence of citizens are prioritized against personal or group interest”.

The AGF claimed that the current administration had in the past put modalities in place to give the police the support they needed to improve their welfare and do their work professionally.

He added that Police Act 2020 has provided answers to the various problems affecting the police force, including their operations and welfare as captured in the Police Trust Fund.

Malami restated that the federal government had been mindful of the totality of the interest, welfare, security, and well-being of all citizens before the current agitations to reform the Police force.

According to him, the government will continue to ensure the security and welfare of all citizens.