By Fisayo Akinduro,  Osogbo

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The Osun State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality, Human Rights Violations and Related Extra Judicial Killings, has reaffirmed its commitment in ensuring fairness and equity in all the petitions brought before it.
Chairman of the panel, Justice Akin Oladimeji (rtd.), who gave the assurance, said members of the panel had been working rigorously to ensure adequate compensations to those with good cases.
He disclosed that the panel has also reserved its recommendations in some of the cases already concluded in line with judicial procedure as part of efforts to ensure justice and adequate compensations for all.
According to him, the panel has disposed off 23 cases out of 34 petitions before it.
During the sitting, a petitioner, Chief Adegoke Raheem, voluntarily withdrew his petition before the panel following his decision to settle the matter.
Raheem had approached the panel to seek justice on alleged assault meted on him recently by a serving police officer in the state.
The petitioner had in his petition claimed that he was beaten to stupor by one Superintendent Dayo Ezekiel, who allegedly punched him for no reason in October 2, 2020, while on exiting a motorpark around Oke-Baale, Osogbo.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Michael Akinwande, who forwarded an application before the panel for the withdrawal of the case, said his client had settled the matter amicably with the defendant before the adjournment.
He said it was interesting to know that the erring officer had complied with the order of the superior police officer that had earlier charged him to formally apologise to his client before the case was brought before the panel.
Ruling in the case, Justice Oladimeji struck out the petition in response to the request of the petitioner’s counsel since the matter has no public interest.
Addressing journalists shortly after the proceedings on Friday, Justice Oladimeji held that it was procedural for the panel to conclude all the cases, put its recommendations on paper and present same to government for adequate implementation and compensations.
When asked why the panel has not been awarding compensations to petitioners with genuine cases, Oladimeji said, “It is conventional to complete all the cases before awarding compensations”.
Three cases had reached final address stage, while eight cases are pending for hearing and further hearing.”
The panel, however adopted the final written address filed by the counsel for Mr. Ibrahim Olagoke, who had petitioned the police for brutality.