By Godwin Edeh
The Benue State Panel of Investigation into Human Rights Violations by the Police and the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) sitting in Makurdi has so far received 63 petitions.
This was made known to The Voice by the Secretary to the panel and Lead Counsel, a Deputy Director Litigation, Ministry of Justice, Barr Edward Yange after the panel’s sitting recently.
According to Barr Yange, “the panel has so far received 63 petitions with 20 of the petitions conclusively laid to rest, awaiting final report while others are for defence or still at hearing stages.”
He said, going by the mandate of the panel which commenced sitting on 16 November, 2020 hope to wind up its activities on 16 May, 2021 if all things go well.
However, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Adam Onum (Rtd) has directed the secretary of the panel to stop receiving petitions.
Justice Adam Onum stated that the order became necessary to allow the panel conclude matters before it, within the time frame of its mandate and for the fact that, there is more work to be done before the submission of final report.
