BY GBENGA OLARINOYE

OSOGBO – The Osun State Truth and Reconciliation Commission, OSRC, set up by Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, Osun State Governor, to look into various cases of alleged human rights abuses, violations and public discontent in the state from June 1, 2003 till date has received 685 petitions.

The Chairman of the commission, Justice Samson Odemwingie Uwaifo (rtd) disclosed this yesterday at the inaugural public hearing of the commission held at State High Court, Osogbo. Justice Uwaifo said the petitions had been categorized into eight sections for the commission to be able to carry out its  job effectively and efficiently.

The categories are political victimization, police brutality, soldier brutality, chieftaincy matters, land disputes and destruction of property, civil service matters and administrative injustices, complaints against government actions and inactions and other human rights abuses.

According to Justice Uwaifo, 400 petitions were received on political victimization, 54 on police brutality, 13 on soldier brutality, 51 on chieftaincy matters, 33 on land disputes and destruction of property, 37 on civil service matters and administrative injustices, while 49 petitions were received on complaints against government actions and in-actions and 36 on other matters.

The chairman of the commission who sought for the cooperation from counsel to both petitioners and respondents so that the work would not be  delayed unnecessarily, assured that the commission would be fair to all parties in its recommendations towards ensuring truth and genuine reconciliation of all parties.

It would be recalled that commission was set up on February 15th 2011 by the state government in accordance with section 2(1) of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap 29, Laws of Osun State 2002 and expected to conduct public sitting for one month.

The commission is expected to engender public welfare; facilitate redress, promote reconciliation and prevent possible future re-occurrence.

It is to search for and identify in full, the nature of the discontent in Osun State, identify the grievances and the remote and immediate causes, which have given rise to and resulted in the acts of gross violations of human rights as well as attacks on persons and property in the state.

It is also expected to identify the person or persons, authorities, institutions or organizations which may be held accountable for such gross violations of human rights and determine the motives for the violations or abuses, the victims and circumstances thereof and the effect on such victims and the society generally of the atrocities, among others.

Other members of the commission are Yunus Ustaz-Usman SAN, Professor (Mrs.) Ayo Atsenuwa, Mrs. Funmi Falana, Hakeem Yusuff, Bamidele Aturu while Mr. Nurudeen Ogbara is the Secretary of the Commission.

In his remarks, the Osun State Chairman of Nigerian Bar of Association, NBA, Mr. Gani Adesina sought for more time for the commission to allow counsel of both petitioners and respondents study the petitions and reply adequately. Ten cases were heard yesterday and adjourned till further dates.