Alliance for the Survival of Covid-19 and Beyond, (ASCAB), a coalition of 80 civil society organizations chaired by prominent Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana has set up an Independent Panel of Inquiry to probe the alleged killings of Nigerians including the security operatives and the destruction of properties during the #ENDSARs protests.
ASCAB said the panel which has one month to complete its assignment, will be open to all Nigerians without restrictions adding that the Nigerian people will own the process and the outcome of all findings.
Daily Trust reports that the nation especially Lagos witnessed a week of killing and massive destruction of properties in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest.
The Lagos State Government has already set up a panel to investigate the said killings.
But the coalition said the independent inquiry is not to counter the panels set up by the tiers of government but to complement and enrich the democratic space.
“It is a challenge to those already set up by the government to ensure a transparent approach to all enquiries and to put first the public interests,” spokesman of the coalition, Mr. Adewale Adeoye said.
According to him, the panel being set up by ASCAB would make its findings available to all stakeholders including the Federal and State authorities.
The seven-member panel is led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN), Mr. Chino Obiagwu while Affiong Affiong is the Secretary. Other members of the panel are Professor Adenike Ogushe and Mr Y.Z Yau, former President, Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, (CDHR), Mr. Malachy Ugwumadu and two representatives of youths, Miss Fatima Umar and Mr. Olumide Ogele.
