The Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Related Extra Judicial Killings set up by Osun State Government has indicted the Nigerian police over misconduct.
The Chairman of the Panel, Justice Akinwale David Oladimeji, berated the attitude and misconduct of some officers and men of Nigeria Police Force.
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Justice Oladimeji said the evidence gathered so far showed that police are the clog in the wheels of Nigeria’s progress.
Oladimeji said the panel received thirty petitions and lamented that most of the cases received were premised on the non- execution and non-implementation of court verdicts against police.
He said: “A lot of things have been exposed about the conduct and activity of the Nigeria Police.
“From the evidence we have gathered so far, it appears that it is some of the Police officers and men that are the clog in the wheel of progress of this country; that is my belief”.
He said the panel was committed to adjudicating justice within the period allocated to conclude all the hearings of all the petitions and cases before it.
“We have been receiving petitions and we have about 30 cases. Though we have resolved some of the cases, there won’t be any report until we conclude all the proceedings.
“Generally, there has never been any delay except for some few cases. As you know, either the lawyer or petitioner can cause some delay because sometimes, they write letters for adjournments.
“We are used to that anyway, and we know how to handle such cases. The six months period will be sufficient. We have been in this business for years and we know how to manage lawyers.
“If it requires us to work extra time, we will do so. We will not hesitate to conclude the hearings within the stipulated period because we don’t want any extension of time”, Oladimeji added.