Lekki Toll Gate: ‘There Are Attempts To Frustrate EndSARS Judicial Panel’ – SAN Adegboruwa Cries Out

By Florence Cornelius On Sep 18, 2021

A legal practitioner, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has raised alarm about attempts to frustrate the outcome of the probe of Nigerian Army invasion of Lekki toll gate in Lagos state.

Adegboruwa is a member of the Lagos Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) raised an alarm on Saturday in a terse statement via his Facebook page.

He posted;

EndSARS Panel Being Frustrated; there are attempts to frustrate the EndSARS Judicial Panel from reaching meaningful conclusions on investigations into the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of 20th October 2020. I will give details subsequently.

Few hours after the outcry, Lagos state judicial panel on police brutality suspended its sitting until further notice.

Doris Okwuobi, the retired judge heading the panel, made the announcement today, saying the panel is expected to work on two reports before the expiration of its tenure.

The chairperson appealed to petitioners and counsels to bear with the panel, adding that notice of hearings will be sent out for petitions that have not been concluded.

On October 20, 2020, troops marched to the Lekki tollgate and opened fire to disperse hundreds of protesting Nigerians.

The youth-led nationwide demonstration forced the Federal Government to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious police unit.

Across the country, SARS has been indicted for arbitrary killings, detention and disappearance of scores of civilians.

On February 6, the Lagos panel chaired by Justice Doris Okuwobi, permitted Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to recommence operations at the toll gate.

The retired judge ruled after another application by Demola Seriki, counsel to the LCC. Some members of the jury opposed it.

Okuwobi, DIG Taiwo Lakanu (Police), Lucas Koyejo (National Human Rights Commission), Segun Awosanya (Segalink) and Oluwatoyin Odusanya (Citizens Right) voted in LLC’s favour.

Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), Patience Udoh (Civil society), Rinuola Oduala and Temitope Majekodunmi (Youths reps) voted against.

The day’s sitting witnessed drama as Okwuobi and others walked out after Adegboruwa raised objection to the ruling.

Around the time, Oduala, a vocal End SARS advocate, stepped down from the panel, vowing not to be part of “a cover-up”.