The Nigeria Police Force has approached the Federal High Court Abuja seeking to stop the judicial panels of inquiry investigating various acts of #Policebrutality as well as the #EndSARS shooting at the Lekki Toll Gate.
the various judicial panels have unearthed gory tales of human rights abuses resulting in various degrees of physical and mental injuries and gruesome fatalities.
The suit with file number FHC/ABJ/CS/1492/2020 prayed the court to halt the probes across the 36 states of the federation and suspend their various panels of inquiry from going ahead with the probe that uncovers police recklessness.
In all, there are 104 defendants joined in the suit by the Police Force. They include the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission, the attorneys-General of the 36 states as well as the chairmen of the various states’ panels.
The state panels of inquiry were set up at the instance of the National Economic Council with members including the 36 states governors and the Vice President.
The group is seeking an end to police impunity and brutality.
Mr O M Atoyebi (SAN), in his petition on behalf of the NPF, argued that the state governors lacked the powers to investigate the activities of the police force and its officials in the conduct of their duties.
Atoyebi argued that by virtue of the provisions of section 241(1)(2)(a) and item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution, only the Federal Government had exclusive power to “organise, control and administer the Nigeria Police Force.
The suit therefore prayed the Federal High Court to declare the “attitude of the governors of the various states of the Federation of Nigeria, in this case as unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.”
It also urged the court to restrain the defendants “from making or conducting any further investigations, sittings and inquiries in respect of matters affecting the Nigeria Police Force, and or further setting up any panel of inquiry in any state whatsoever in the country.”
From all indications, Nigerian youths are set to return to the streets come Saturday.
Social is replete with calls to all all to ensure it is a success. According to one person, #EndSARS protest has already resumed in the US.
One of the sponsors of the protest, Eromosele who was more involved with feeding participants was incarcerated by the police but freed on bail.
He is set to resume the feeding of at least 3,000 hungry youths by Saturday.
Read also:
Army Not happy Sanwo-Olu Denied Inviting Them: #Lekki Toll Gate
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