EndSARS: Victims accused government over non-payment of compensation in A-Ibom

Petitioners at the Judicial panel of enquiry set up by Akwa Ibom State government over incidences of police brutality in the state have complained about the non-payment of compensation to them by the state government.

petitioner and native of Urueffong Oruko local government Area, who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Uyo complained of how her hope of getting monetary compensation was dashed after proving how police officers invaded her residence, shot her at the leg and fled.

The petitioner who simply identified herself as Mary said why she was still limping was due to lack of funds to go to hospital to access proper medical treatment, noting that she has already spent all she had treating the leg in a traditional healing home.

Another petitioner, who spoke on grounds of anonymity for fear of victimisation by State government, narrated that he travelled from a far distance down to Akwa Ibom, his State to check if the State has commenced payment of compensation as recommended by the Federal government.

“I have presented my complaint before the panel of inquiry so I don’t want to say it again for obvious reasons. But I am worried that Akwa Ibom State government has not commenced the payment of compensation to victims. It is high time the panel do something about it because other States have started.

” I passed through a lot of stress in bringing my witnesses from where they reside to the court anytime my matter would be heard.  It is my prayer that I receive justice and be compensated”, he said.

It could be recalled that the National Economic Council (NEC) headed by the Vice president, Prof. Yemi had at the end of its 108 meeting on October 14, 2020 directed all State governors to set up Judicial panel of inquiry to investigate alleged incidences of brutality by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and recommend compensation and other remedial measures where appropriate.

The Council had also urged the states to establish victims Support fund in which upon determination by the panel, victims would be paid to assuage their plight.

To back up the resolution, the Speaker of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila had insisted that the budget would not be passed unless the victims support fund is captured therein.

It could be recalled as well that Governor Udom Emmanuel in complying with NEC’s directive had on Tuesday October 20, 2020 inaugurated an 8-man panel chaired by Justice Ifiok Ukana with the mandate to receive and investigate complaint of police brutality, human rights violations and extra judicial killings in the state.

Reacting to the development in the state, a one-time Attorney General of the State, Mr.Victor Iyanam, said the State government ought to have established the Support Fund as soon as it set up the committee recalling that he wrote to  governor Udom Emmanuel twice on the issue explaining the importance of monetary compensation to the victims as directed by  NEC.

Iyanam who wondered why the governor reportedly failed to accede to the demand said the State government has all it takes to set up the fund knowing fully well that the Federal Government would refund all States.

“I wrote to the governor, twice telling him the import of raising the victims support fund to assuage the plight of the victims but it seemed that was not his priority.

“Just take a look at what Lagos State is doing and other States that cannot match Akwa Ibom’s allocation. The monies paying as compensation would eventually come from the Federal government. Police is a Federal establishment and it is the FG that would pay through States.

“The Federal government said there would be a budgetary provision for that, that means there will be a bulk provision  to the State governments so that even if they had paid the victims, they can easily recoup those funds, in order words the budgetary provision is in form of insurance to States, that means, go ahead you will recoup.

‘This fund is captured in the federal terms of reference to be used in different States, unfortunately, this State government ignored that part.” Iyanam said.

Meanwhile effort to get reaction from the Attorney general and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, SAN proved futile as he neither pick his calls nor reply to text message sent to him.

When the chairman of the panel in the State, Justice Ifiok Ukana (Rtd) was contacted to react over the incident, he said the victims were right to have reacted that way because that was part of FGs terms of reference upon inauguration of the panel and urged them(victims) to be patient as the panel would come out with a full report where some of the issues on compensation are addressed.

He however stressed that not all the cases brought before the panel merited monetary compensation.

According to him, “we cannot pay compensation now because the state government did not set up victims support fund which would have empowered us to do so. But when we send in our final report to government, there are some cases that merited compensation and we hope that government will do something about it”.