Chief Pathologist of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), John Obafunwa, have submitted autopsy reports of 99 persons killed during #EndSARS protests in the state to judicial panel of inquiry.
Obafunwa, a professor of forensic pathology, was told to submit the autopsy reports at the last proceedings on June 5.
In October 2020, Nigerians across the country took to the streets to demonstrate against police brutality under #EndSARS campaign.
On October 20, soldiers invaded the Lekki tollgate, where some demonstrators had gathered, and fired shots.
There has been a controversy around the casualty figures since the incident occurred.
Although the army initially denied its soldiers shot at unarmed protesters, the multitude of evidence presented by witnesses, including videos showed that soldiers shot at protesters.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who initially said no one died from the shooting, later said only two persons died.
Several protesters, including those who have appeared before the judicial panel to give evidence that many people were killed at the Lekki tollgate and many injured, have insisted that some of the corpses were taken away by the soldiers.
Speaking at the hearing of the judicial panel on June 6, Obafunwa said 99 bodies were recovered in the month of October 2020.
He said out of the 99 bodies received, three were brought in from Lekki tollgate and the remaining bodies were received from other parts of the state including Surulere, Ikorodu, Ajah, Fagba, among others.
Read Also: Lekki Shooting: Nigerian Army Changes Position, Says Soldiers Had Both Live And Blank Ammunition
According to PremiumTimes, Obafunwa while giving evidence at the panel on Saturday, said the 99 bodies, which include three killed at Lekki tollgate, were deposited at the mortuary between October 19 and October 24, 2020.
He stated that the ethical practice, especially during a mass disaster or a situation where all sorts of speculations arise, is to carry out an x-ray before you put a knife to a body.
The pathologist expressed;
You need to look for hidden fractures or prosthesis. It will help if such is discovered because it will be circumstantial evidence to make you say that this body belongs to this person.
We need to avoid sensationalism. If you look at a page in the report I submitted, all I did was to summarise. However, if I do an autopsy and I do not do radiography, you would tear me to pieces if I come to court with such a record. That is why I had to do everything, leaving nothing to chance.
Doris Okuwobi, chair of the panel, ruled that the records presented be accepted as evidence and adjourned further hearing till June 26.
