Nigerians have been asked to submit complaints of human right violations encountered, witnessed or heard during the #ENDSARs protests of October 2020.
The Alliance for Survival of COVID-19 and Beyond, (ASCAB) chaired by prominent human rights lawyer Femi Falana had last month set up the independent panel.
ASCAB is the country’s leading coalition of some 80 civil society groups including but not limited to the country’s leading labour movements.
The independent panel chaired by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) Mr Chino Obiagwu has swung into action asking Nigerians to submit reports of human right violations linked to #ENDSARs.
The call, according to the panel, is not restricted to victims who already submitted to panels set up by the government since outcomes and investigations might differ in form or content.
ASCAB said the Citizen Tribunal will enrich the investigations into the agelong abuses suffered by Nigerians in the hands of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, (SARs).
“The Panel is to receive complaints from the general public of violations, before, during and after the #EndSARS protests across Nigeria. To this end, the panel hereby calls on the general public, especially families of those who lost their lives or who suffer one form of human rights violation or another,” its chairman said in a statement on Sunday.
It added that all interested victims regardless of whether they have approached the official commissions of inquiry set up by the State Governments or not can submit memos to the Citizens Tribunal.
“To this end, all victims that have submitted a petition to the official commissions of inquiry should indicate if they have, and specify which of the commissions they submitted their petitions to. This will enable us follow up and track petitions at the official commissions,” Obiagwu said.
It noted that complaints can be submitted in writing or by SMS, WhatsApp message, email or by telephone call to the address and telephone numbers through [email protected], [email protected], 09153684686 (Whatsapp), 09025243545, 08098944313, 09134868681