Ten Months After, Taraba END SARS Panel Yet To Submit Report, Blames Poor Funding

 

Ten months after the Taraba Panel on End SARS which was inaugurated in November last year, ended it's sitting on May 17, 2021, the committee yet to submit its report to the Government for implementation, Taraba Truth and Facts gathered.

Sources in the Panel blamed poor funding from the Taraba State Government for the delay in the submission of the report of the Committee, lamenting that they lack of funds to produce the final report to be submitted.

A member of the panel who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent on the phone that since their inauguration the Governor only approved their allowance for one month.

"The panel was poorly funded having been given an allowance for only a month. Five months of allowances are yet to be paid. The panel members including the chairman used their money in funding the sitting of the panel for the remaining five months.

"The report is yet to be submitted due to financial constraints, despite a directive from the Federal Government that all States should submit the report without delay for final deliberations on modalities for implementation of the recommendations regarding compensation to victims.

"We have concluded our work, but there is no money to produce the report in the required format and copies. The Commissioner for Justice has written several memos to the Governor, but no avail.

"The report is supposed to be submitted to the Vice President who is the head of the National Economic Council this October, but I am not sure Taraba report will be ready for submission when other states are submitting.

"The implication is that victims of the End SARS in Taraba will not be compensated because our report may not scale through unless a miracle happens," the source lamented.

According to the source, the panel heard 28 petitions out of 34 petitions received with 47 victims of brutality slated for compensation.

The source added that 11 victims who died were awarded N20 million each, eight victims who are permanently incapacitated have been awarded 15 million each, while four victims of torture were awarded 10 million each.

"Another victim of torture was awarded N8 million, while the rest of the victims of torture, detention, arrest and extortion were awarded various sums of money ranging from N3 to N7 million."

Confirming the development, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Taraba State, Barr. Sam Adda admitted that lack of funds was responsible for the delay in submission of the panel's report.