Governor Fayemi to compensate #EndSARS victims with N7.2m

The Ekiti State Government will pay N7.2 million in compensation to 24 petitioners of #EndSARS victims in 14 days, Commissioner for Justice, Olawale Fapohunda stated.

Fapohunda announced this during a visit to the panel sitting in Ado Ekiti, on Friday.

On Dec. 30, 2020, the panel suggested the amount as compensation to some victims who lamented about several forms of injustices and damage to their properties during the October #EndSARS protests.

“Governor Kayode Fayemi will not wait until the panel submits its final report before processing the implementation of the recommendations.

“The compensation which will be paid within the next 14 days. We are happy to announce today that the process has begun.

“We are renewing our process to strengthening our Departments to respond to Human Rights Violations, the Governor has also directed a holistic review of our Criminal Laws to review the cases of victims of our Criminal Justice System.

“The State executive council has approved the Ekiti Victim Charter Bill for onward transmission to the House of Assembly,” he added.

“The Executive Council has approved the payment of compensations so far in the ongoing inquiry to 24 petitioners recommended by the panel to receive N7. 2 which include seven Police Officers who suffered loss in the course of their duty,” he said.

Replying, the Chairman of the Panel, rtd Justice Cornelius Akintayo, stated that the panel received 85 petitions between Nov. 2, 2020 and Dec. 1, 2020.

Justice Akintayo said 24 petitions were removed or unacceptable for lack of jurisdiction, lack of diligent prose

He stated that 27 recommendations have been issued while eleven (11) petitions are still on-going for trial.