By Saheed Ibrahim

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The Panel of Enquiry on Police Brutality in Ondo State and Other Matters, sitting in Akure, has received a total of 48 cases, bordering on Police brutality and extra judicial killings as well as vandalisation of property during the EndSARS protests last October.
It would be recalled that 32 cases were already received before the inaugural sitting of the panel on December 3, 2020 while other petitions came in afterwards.
The 16 fresh petitions are mostly on vandalisation of property by hoodlums some of which were submitted by Ondo State Judiciary, Ondo State Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Agric Inputs and Supply Agency while that of Mrs Apuwabi Olorunfemi is on the murder of her husband during the protests.
Meanwhile, the Justice Adesola Sidiq (rtd) led panel yesterday struck out the petition filed by Sergeant Apata Phillips on “loss of personal belongings at the burnt Aketi/Aiyedatiwa campaign office” because the petitioner failed to appear before the panel several times.
Justice Sidiq told The Hope that the petitioner had been contacted but he (Apata) said he had been transferred to Abuja and no longer found it convenient to appear before the panel.
In other cases heard yesterday, hearing on the petition submitted by Inspector Adeolu Elumaro was completed and closed.
The petitioner and his counsel asked for adjournment the last day the case was heard in order to file additional statement on oath on some evidence tendered.
The additional evidence were admitted by the panel before the case was closed, making it the 9th petition completed and closed.
The petition by Olayide Adelami campaign office on vandalisation of its property was heard. Four witnesses, including the Director General of the campaign organisation, Adepoju Adeusi gave evidence and the case was closed to the state government after all the cases are completed.
The case filed by Abdulazeez Adebayo on encroachment of farmland, theft and arson was adjourned till February 17 for hearing