TheCable

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, to ensure speedy prosecution of 35 operatives of the defunct special anti-robbery squad (SARS).

The ex-SARS operatives were accused of human rights violations and abuse of office in a report by the presidential investigation panel.

Tony Ojukwu (pictured), executive secretary of NHRC, spoke when the commission submitted the report to Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation for implementation.

Ojukwu said the commission expects the AGF to consider their prosecution in accordance with the law.

“The submission of the report is a gratifying point to the commission which went round the six geopolitical zones of the country to listen to various complaints by Nigerians against the then SARS and there were discoveries and all were encapsulated in the report,” Ojukwu said.

In response, the AGF said the report will be implemented in a way that justice will be served to all concerned parties adding that “justice is not one-way traffic”.

“We have the mandate to establish a constitutional order, where the welfare and peaceful co-existence of citizens are prioritised against personal or group interest,” he said.

Malami said the current administration had, in the past, put modalities in place to give the police the support they need to improve their welfare and do their work professionally.

He noted that the police act 2020 has provided answers to the various problems affecting the force, including their operations and welfare as captured in the police trust fund.

According to Malami, the federal government has been working to ensure the welfare, security and well-being of all citizens before the current agitations to reform the police force began, adding that the government will continue to ensure the security and welfare of all citizens.