A total of 71 petitions have been received by the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into alleged Acts of Violence, Torture, Brutality, Murder and Violation of Fundamental Right of Citizens by Operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
Chairman of the panel, Justice Chukwuneye Uriri disclosed this during the inaugural seating of the panel in Port Harcourt, recently.
Justice Uriri said the panel’s terms of reference include identifying and ascertaining acts of violence, torture, brutality, murder and violation of fundamental rights of citizens by officers and men of Nigerian police, especially operatives of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS.
He added that the commission will also ascertain and identify the officers involved in the act, their motive of the actions, as well as the victims in the act.
Justice Uriri who noted that the commission will make recommendations to Rivers State Government, assured that the commission will ensure justice and fairness to all concerned.
The panel is expected to hear matters on daily basis till 30th December, 2020.
Rivers govt reaffirms ban on collection of levies from students
Rivers State government has reaffirmed the ban on collection of charges and fees of any kind from pupils and students of schools in the state.
A statement signed by the state Commissioner for Education, Prof Kaniye Ebeku, warned that any teacher caught going against the ban will not be spared.
“As schools reopen for the 2020/2021 academic session, principals and heads of schools are hereby reminded that the state governor, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike has since banned the collection of charges and fees of any kind and for any purpose from students and pupils. Any principal, head teacher or others caught violating the ban will be summarily dealt with in accordance with the extant laws and rules”, the statement reads.
The government urged pupils, parents and guardians should to resist payment of any kind of charges and promptly report such situations to the Commissioner for Education.