Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has established a 10-member committee to verify claims by people affected by election-related violence and manage the disbursement of a ₦500 million relief fund.
The panel, announced on Monday in a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, is chaired by the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.
Its members include Mrs Eniola Omotoso, Mr Emmanuel Olowu representing civil society organisations, Alhaja Balkiss Akinleye, a nominee of the Nigeria Police Force, Alhaji Moshood Suleiman of the Ministry of Information, Moses Faremi of the Ministry of Justice, a nominee of the Department of State Services, Hon. Yemi Lawal, and Mr Sola Sonibare, Executive Secretary of the Osun Investment Promotion Agency, who will serve as secretary.
According to the statement, the committee is mandated “to receive and verify petitions, claims and supporting evidence submitted by victims; determine the eligibility of claimants; and recommend appropriate relief to verified victims in accordance with the guidelines approved by the State Government.”
The government said the initiative reflects Adeleke’s commitment to assisting citizens who suffered losses, injuries, displacement or other hardships linked to election violence.
It urged “all affected persons with genuine claims to cooperate with the committee by providing accurate information and relevant evidence necessary for the verification process.”
The statement added that the committee is expected to ensure the ₦500 million Election Violence Victims Relief Endowment Fund “is administered transparently, fairly and strictly for the benefit of verified victims.”
