The Imo State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Police Brutality and related matters Tuesday commenced its seating in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
The Commission also lamented the response from the residents of the state which it stated has been rather poor.
Addressing the court, the Chairman of the Panel, Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe (Rtd) noted that the panel has received only two petitions which she described as poor.
She added: “This is not the case in other states of the federation, the people of the state should seize the opportunity and take advantage of this panel to get justice and redress the wrong done to them.
“In the next two weeks or thereabout, if we do not get petitions, we may wind up and go home. It is surprising that at the panel set up by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Imo people recorded the highest number of petitions, so it is a wonder that the same people are not coming forward.”
Duruoha-Igwe continued: “Ours is investigative, remedial and advisory in nature. It is important to mention that this Commission, though judicial in nature, is not a Court. Nobody is on trial but we intend to unravel what transpired between the Police and suspects.
” In the same vein, it is our intention to find out the cause of the ill will between the officers of the Law and Citizens of the Country. Not to do so will not bring a permanent solution. At the end of our investigation, we hope that our decisions will enhance peace in Imo state and Nigeria at large.”
Hearing into the submitted petitions commenced immediately.
