Federal Government has no power to en-panel a probe by the states- Femi Adeshina

The Presidency has said President Muhammadu Buhari would not receive the reports of the states’ judicial panels on police brutality and extrajudicial killings.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina, stated that the president would only act on the report submitted by various state governments.
Recall that the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters had last week Monday submitted a 309-page report to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel, in its report, accused the Nigerian Army and Police of killing unarmed peaceful protesters at the Lekki Tollgate.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, thereafter, constituted a Committee to bring forward a White Paper within the next two weeks.
Speaking today, Monday, Femi Adesina said the reports by the states’ panels won’t be submitted straight to the Federal Government.

He said, “Not to the Federal Government. Under the law, Federal Government has no power to en-panel a probe by the states.

“What would happen is that when the state comes up with pronouncements on that panel reports, that would then be of interest to the Federal Government; it is not as if they would bring it to the Federal Government.”

The presidential spokesperson said the federal government would only act and address areas of interest in the report, reminding Nigerians that 36 policemen were killed around the country during the EndSARS protests last year and the perpetrators must be prosecuted.