(EXCLUSIVE): AMENDED RULES OF LAGOS JUDICIAL PANEL OF INQUIRY

 

UPPLEMENTARY RULES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE LAGOS STATE JUDICIAL PANEL OF INQUIRY ON RESTITUTION AND COMPENSATION OF VICTIMS OF SARS ABUSES AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS 2020

ISSUED PURSUANT TO THE TRIBUNALS OF INQUIRY LAW, LAWS OF LAGOS STATE CAP T7, LAWS OF LAGOS STATE

1.1. These Rules are made pursuant to Section 4 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Law, Chapter T7 Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

1.2. These Rules may be cited as Supplementary Rules of Proceedings of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution and Compensation of Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Related Matters 2021-Rules 3(A)(6)-(11). 

1.3. They shall apply in addition to the provisions of Rule 3 of the Panel’s Rules of Proceedings dated 28th October 2020. In cases of conflict these Supplementary Rules shall supersede 

1.4. These Supplementary Rules shall apply to all Petitions in which hearing is yet to commence or any other Petition as the Panel may direct. These shall include Petitions presented in respect of the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate on the 20th of October 2020 but shall not include matters falling under the general investigation of the events of the 20th of October 2020 at the Lekki Toll Gate, except as to time of presentation of witnesses, examination in chief, cross examination and filing and adoption of written addresses.

 RULE 3

Immediately after Rule 3 (5) add:

6. All Petitioners shall frontload their complaints by providing full written particulars thereof as follows:

 

(a) A detailed sworn affidavit stating the circumstances of their complaint, details of any police officer (s) or security agent (s) if known;

(b) Sworn Statements of witness (es) to be called;

(c) Photocopies of written documentary evidence to be relied upon.

(d) Copies of electronic evidence, such as videos and audio recordings to be relied upon reduced into a flash drive. 

7. Each Party shall be entitled to call a maximum of two (2) witnesses including subpoenaed witnesses, at the hearing  of each case. In exceptional circumstances and at the sole discretion of the Panel, the Panel may permit a party to call an additional witness. 

8.         Each witness, including the Petitioner, shall be entitled to 30 minutes (Thirty Minutes) for his/her evidence in chief.

9. The Nigeria Police Force Counsel or other such opposition counsel shall be entitled to a maximum of 1 (one) hour for cross examination of any witness called. 

10. Each party shall be entitled to a maximum of two adjournments in respect of each Petition. In circumstances where a Petition cannot proceed or is adjourned at the instance of the Panel shall not count as part of such adjournments. 

11. At the close of each Petition, parties shall have the option of filing written addresses. Parties who choose to file written addressees shall have maximum three days on each side to file such addresses and a party entitled to reply on points of law  and wishing to do so shall file such reply within two days. 

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Issued under the hand of Rtd. Honourable Justice Doris Okuwobi, Chairperson, Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution and Compensation of Victims of SARS Abuses and Other Related Matters 2020

This  2nd  Day of August 2021