Lokoja.
The Kogi State Office of the Public Defender and Citizens’ Rights Commission (PDCRC), on Friday, submitted its report of enquiry on the ENDSARS protests in the state, triggered across the country in 2020, to the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Speaking at the event at the Government House Lokoja, the Director General of PDCRC, Barr. Abdullahi Zakari, said the commission set up the Human Rights Special Interventions Committee, inaugurated on October 15, 2020, on the directive of the Governor.
According to him, the committee was established to deal with matters arising out of the ENDSARS protests in 2020.
”Today, we are submitting the Kogi State report of its findings and then making appropriate recommendations to Government on what to do.
”We identified the immediate and remote causes of the protests and also made recommendations for the purposes of implementation.
”So that such occurrence will be minimised,if not completely stopped in some other time,” he said.
According to Zakari, the committee entertained 12 petitions out of which six of them were life issues.
He explained that at the commission’s level, they were able to address some issues that were not too serious, made recommendations and people have gotten results.
He added that on the other six reports, there was a public hearing, where people took ownership of their complaints, and the committee made their findings.
”In all, the recommendations would go a long way into resolving some of the issues that undermined the ENDSARS protests that swept across the country,” Zakari said.
In his response, the Governor commended the committee for a job well done, assuring that the State Government would look into the recommendations for implementation.
The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Dr Folashade Ayoade, promised to continue to give the necessary support to ensure that Kogi PDCRC is well positioned to deliver on its objectives.
He commended the commission for several civil and criminal cases and interventions it had handled and resolved across the state since it was established.
”I want to assure you that every recommendation therein will be well noted and carry out because of my strong believe in promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights,” he said.
Bello reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that residents and citizens of the state, especially the indigents and vulnerable,have access to justice free of charge.
The governor further restated his determination to ensure protection, promotion and enforcement of human rights across the state.
Earlier, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibrahim Mohammed SAN, said Kogi PDCRC was a product of justice sector reforms established through the instrumentality of law.
He commended the commission for a job well done in putting up the ENDSARS report, assuring them of the State Government continuous support and without any interference in delivering their mandates.
Also speaking, the Kogi State Acting Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Josiah Majebi, appreciated the Governor for his proactive-ness in ensuring that human rights are promoted, protected and enforced in the state without interference.
He assured the commission of the total support of the judiciary in its bid to deliver justice for the vulnerable and indigent residents and citizens of the state.
In his vote of thanks, the Committee Chairman, Barr. Ibrahim Alhassan, thanked the governor for creating the enabling environment for the committee to operate.
Alhassan further commended the DG Kogi PDCRC for a great job, describing Zakari as a “great asset to Kogi State Government”.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
