The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for SARS-related abuses and other matters has awarded N19,250,000 as compensation to six victims of police brutality.
The recipients are: Akinmade Akinrolabu (N1.5 million); Sanusi Oluwakemi (N750, 000); Patrick Michael (N3 million); Ayomide Oyewunmi (N1 million); Adeshina Adeosun (N10 million) and Oluwatosin Odebode (N3 million).
The award came on the heels of another N10million Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu gave as compensation to the families of two operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) who died in the cause of duties.
Chairperson of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (retd) presented the cheques to the victims or their families.
The family of Adeshina Adeosun, a taxi driver, had appeared before the panel to narrate how police officers attached to Olosan Police Station in Mushin axis of the state shot him, following which he died.
The family alleged that the deceased was shot at Fan Milk junction around Mushin axis of Lagos, on October 20, 2020, during the #EndSARS protest.
Ayomide Oyewunmi, 14, got N1million following the trauma he suffered while being handcuffed by some police officers attached to the Ajah area of the state.
His father, Taiwo Oyewunmi, had told the panel that the police officers invaded his residence and handcuffed his son.
Mr Oyewunmi said that it took the intervention of the station’s DCO and instruction from the “higher authority not to detain the minor in the cell” adding that his son was traumatised following the incident.
His father had in May on his behalf demanded financial compensation of N25 million.
The panel ruled that the 14-year-old was subjected to fear and exposed to danger and is entitled to compensation and apology from the police.
Also, a relative of the late Adeshina Adeosun received N10 million compensation on behalf of their family.
His daughter, Funmilayo, who witnessed how her father was fatally shot by the police, told the panel in February that his body was also seized by the police attached to the Olosan station in Mushin.
Mrs. Okwuobi ordered the Lagos police to provide the deceased body for burial.
She advised that the Nigerian police officers be trained on how to handle a crowd and a riotous situation.
The panel was set up by the Lagos government in the wake of the #EndSARS protest in October 2020, to probe cases of police brutality in the state.
It was provided with a N200million kitty.
