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Lagos #EndSARS judicial panel member faults S/West governors, ministers

#EndSARS judicial panel member faults S/West governors, ministers

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a senior advocate of Nigeria, has faulted governors and ministers from the Southwest geo-political zone for visiting the Lekki tollgate and tampering with evidence that could aid investigation into the shootings that occurred at the tollgate last week.

Adegboruwa, a human right activist, is a member of the Judicial Panel of Enquiry set up by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Ol to investigate complaints of police brutality which triggered the nationwide #EndSARS protests.

The panel has an extended mandate to unearth circumstances surrounding Tuesday, October 20, invasion and shooting of the #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate, allegedly by some soldiers.

The panel which was inaugurated on Monday, October 19, is expected to begin sitting today, Monday, October 26, at the International Court of Arbitration, Lekki, with members of the public who have been abused or violated by the police expected to formally lodge their complaints and tender evidences.

But ahead of the inaugural sitting of the judicial panel Adegboruwa faulted the Southwest governors and ministers, who were on an inspection tour to the Lekki tollgate on Sunday, October, 25.

Adegboruwa particularly queried the minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola’s decision to remove a hidden camera from the scene that was under investigation by the panel.

Adegboruwa, in a statement on Monday morning, made available to newsmen, stated that the governors/ministers’ visit and removal of the camera from the scene was an act to distort facts and they have impeded the panel responsibility.

Some of the scenes visited by the Southwest governors/ministers led by the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, include the Lagos High Court, the State DNA & Forensic Centre, the Nigerian Ports Authority headquarters, Marina, and the burnt Lekki tollgate.

Adegboruwa, in a statement titled ‘BRF TAMPERS WITH EVIDENCE’, appealed to the Lagos State governor, Sanwo-Olu to hands-off from the committee activities and accord it full autonomy as promised at the inauguration.

Adegboruwa said: “On Sunday, October 25, 2020, it was widely publicised that ministers and governors of the Southwest visited the governor of Lagos State on a sympathy tour of structures affected by the wanton looting and destruction that took place last week. In the course of their visit, they were led to the Lekki toll plaza, to assess the situation thereat.

“It was at the same Lekki toll plaza that the incident of alleged shooting of EndSARS protesters was said to have taken place. And based on public outcry, the governor of Lagos State added the Lekki toll plaza incident to the terms of reference of the Judicial Panel that was set up.

“Since the panel has been vested with jurisdiction over the Lekki toll plaza, I verily believe that it is illegal for anyone else to conduct any visit to the said Lekki toll plaza in the absence of and without the authority and consent of the panel.

It was reported that in the course of the visit, the former governor of Lagos State and the minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, discovered a hidden camera, which he took. This is a clear case of illegally tampering with exhibits that may become useful to the Panel in the course of its assignment.

“I appeal to the governor of Lagos State to allow the panel the full autonomy and independence that was promised at the time of inauguration. It is contempt of the Panel for anyone to usurp the powers of the panel in the way that has been reported. In this regard, the Panel will not shy away from summoning anyone who is alleged to be involved in any contemptuous act that may obstruct the course of justice.

“I call on all Nigerians to come up with their complaints before the Panel for proper ventilation, as it begins its sitting today”, he added.