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Tag: #ENDSARS

#EndSARS: Lagos Judicial panel awards N20m to two victims of police brutality
Two petitioners have been awarded N10 million each as compensation by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Restitution and Inquiry set up to investigate cases of police brutality especially involving officers of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
The two petitioners, Kudirat Obayomi and Hannah Olugbodi were awarded the compensation on Friday.
Olugbodi, a 35-year-old hairdresser, had on November 2020, narrated how she ended up on a crutch after her left leg was shattered by a stray bullet fired by some men of the disbanded police Special Anti-Robbery Squad who were attempting to arrest a young man with tattoos in June 2018 at the Ijeshatedo area of Lagos.
She said the SARS operatives were at one Ogun City Hotel, to demand money to fuel their vehicle when they saw the young man with tattoos among a group of persons watching a football match at the hotel.
According to the petitioner, the owner of the hotel, one Abu, who usually gave the SARS operatives money, was not around to attend to them.
She said the SARS operatives labelled the young man with tattoos a Yahoo Yahoo boy (cyber fraudster).
She said an attempt by the SARS operatives to arrest and take the boy with tattoos away was resisted by the other boys, making the SARS operatives resort to firing gunshots.
Olugbodi said she was at Ijesha market trying to buy pepper to prepare food for her children to take to school the following day when she was hit by a stray bullet.
She said the market women rushed towards her and asked her for her address and the name of her husband, which she managed to give before passing out.
She said she was eventually taken to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital where they said there was no bed space and she was given four bags of intravenous fluid right in the bus.
Details later…
February 19, 2021
#Lekkitollgate : Stop intimidating #EndSARS protesters – Amnesty International tells FG
Amnesty International has condemned the arrest of End SARS protesters at Lekki toll gate.
The End SARS protesters were arrested by police officers while at the toll gate to kick against the reopening and possession of the toll gate by LCC.
Their arrest has since stirred reactions from Nigerians on social media.
Amnesty International, reacting to the development, urged the government to stop intimidating protesters.
On its official Twitter page, AI wrote: “Today Amnesty International received reports of the arrest of some protesters at the Lekki toll gate.
“We calling on all Nigerian authorities to demonstrate commitment to protect the right to peaceful protest. Stop intimidating peaceful protesters.”
February 13, 2021
#Lekkitollgate: Police Tighten Security At Lekki Toll Gate Ahead Of Planned Protests
Less than 24 hours to the planned protest at the Lekki Toll Gate by some aggrieved youths, police authorities in the state have launched a show of force exercise to express its disapproval of the protest.
Policemen from the Rapid Response team staged a walk round the toll gate on Friday as they prepare to take positions in the area and other parts of the state on Saturday.
This is also coming less than 24 hours after the Federal and State governments warned youth not to embark on the protest, as they raised concerns that it may be hijacked by hoodlums and lead to lawlessness.
The planned protest is in reaction to the decision of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to return control of the Lekki Toll Gate plaza to its owners, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC).
The toll gate had been one of the major converging points for the protesters in Lagos last year and was also the location for the infamous #LekkiShootings, masterminded by security operatives particularly men of the Nigerian Army.
During the proceedings last Saturday the Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, gave a ruling allowing the LCC to repossess the toll gate –
But many Nigerians believe that the toll gate should remain closed in honour of those who lost their lives to the incident, hence sparking the new movement, #OccupyLekki.
Meanwhile, a counter-group promoting the hashtag #DefendLagos also scheduled its protest at the same venue.
Earlier today, one of the youths who has been at the forefront of the movement, Rinu Oduala, announced her decision to step down from the judicial panel.
She had been sworn into the panel on October 27, 2020, as youth representatives.
While thanking the government for the invitation and some of the successes recorded from the panel, she, however, stated that she would not be part of a cover-up.
“I will be stepping down from the Lagos Judicial Panel as it is now obvious that the government is only out to use us for performative actions,” Rinu said in series of tweets.
“What I will not do is be part of a cover-up. I am proud that I took the invitation because some of the successes the panel has recorded so far have been incredibly powerful for the people”.
February 12, 2021
Any Violence In The Name Of #EndSARS Will Not Be Tolerated This Time – Lai Mohammed
The Federal Government has warned those planning a fresh protest at Lekki Toll Gate to shelve their plans as violent protests will not be tolerated.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who gave the warning while addressing journalists on Thursday, in Abuja, said every Nigerian has the freedom to protest but violence in the name of protests will not be condoned.
Mohammed said based on Intelligence there are high chances that the protest which is planned to take place on February 13, 2021, at the Lekki Toll Gate will be hijacked by hoodlums.
“Some #EndSARS proponents have given notice of their plan to return to Lekki Tollgate. They want to return there on Saturday, February 13, this year.
“The #OccupyLekkiTollgate flyers have been circulating online with the proponents threatening that Lagos will burn again.
“Let me be clear, while peaceful protests are constitutional rights of Nigerians, violent protests are not.
“At this time, the chances that any peaceful protest will be hijacked are very high. Any resort to violence in the name of #EndSARS will not be tolerated this time,” the Minister said.
He also noted that the government is watching the roles being played by social media platforms on the planned protest and that security agencies have been placed on red alert to stop the violence.
“We therefore strongly warn those who are planning to re-occupy Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday to desist.
“We know that many of those who have been loudest on social media in advertising the plan to reconvene in Lagos on Saturday are not even in Nigeria. They are elsewhere around the world fanning the embers of violence and inciting gullible people back home. No one should fall for their antics,” he added.
Some youths had earlier threatened to hold a fresh protest at the Lekki tollgate following plans to reopen it for operations.
Using various hashtags including #RevolutionNow and #OccupyLekkiTollGate, on social media, the posters plan to occupy the tollgate on Saturday, February 13, 2021.
February 11, 2021
#EndSARS: FG vows to crack down on fresh protesters at Lekki toll gate
The Federal Government has vowed to crush any fresh strike at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos by #EndSARS protesters.
It warned Nigerians against participating in any protest to block the toll gate.

It said all security agencies have been put on the alert to curtail any protest.
It said protests are constitutionally allowed only in designated places but not toll gates.
It confirmed intelligence report which showed that the latest protest might be hijacked to cause violence nationwide.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed spoke in Abuja against the backdrop of a renewed protest at Lekki Toll Gate as from Saturday.
The Minister said: “However, any further resort to violence in the name of #EndSARS will not be tolerated this time.
” The security agents are ready for any eventuality. A situation in which six soldiers and 37 policemen were murdered in cold blood by hoodlums will not repeat itself.
” The attack, looting and razing of 269 private and public property will not happen again. The killing of 57 civilians will not be re-enacted.”
” No government anywhere will allow a repeat of the kind of destruction, killing and maiming wrought by the hijackers of #EndSARS protests last year.
” After all, only one policeman – (plus four others) – was killed in the invasion of the US Capitol in January, yet the FBI has continued to hunt down and prosecute the perpetrators. No life is more important than the other.”
Mohammed warned those planning the protest to shelve it.
He said intelligence report indicated that some of those planners are non-Nigerians
He added: ” We therefore strongly warn those who are planning to re-occupy Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday to desist.
” We know that many of those who have been loudest on social media in advertising the plan to reconvene in Lagos on Saturday are not even in Nigeria.
“They are elsewhere around the world fanning the embers of violence and inciting gullible people back home. No one should fall for their antics.
February 11, 2021
President Buhari Tolerated Excesses Of #EndSARS Protesters – Malami
The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, says President Muhammadu Buhari tolerated the ‘excesses’ of #EndSARS protesters in the country, back in October 2020.
According to the AGF, that, among other actions of the president is proof of his leniency, despite what he termed as “human rights violations” in the country.
Mr Malami said this on Wednesday while addressing a number of issues from the government’s reaction to the #EndSARS protests, to the appointment of new service chiefs, the extension of the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police, among others.
“As far as Human Rights records of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is concerned, the fact speaks for itself, the commendation by the international body which is the Committee for the Protection of Journalists, local compliance with the recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission, which has been unprecedented, tolerance and indeed, accommodation for the excesses of the #EndSARS protesters were all facts that go to establish a point that the government of President Buhari has shown greater accommodation of the human rights violation and the tolerance to the human rights record as far as the Nigerian State is concerned,” the AGF said on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
According to him, “no nation in the world could have tolerated the idea of destruction to its security institutions”.
“I think over 20 police stations or more — I’m not certain about the number, they can be more — were destroyed during #EndSARS protests and government has a responsibility to ensure the protection of lives and freedom of movement.
“We are confronted with a situation whereby #EndSARS protesters blocked roads, caused mayhem, caused deaths, caused destruction, and they were significantly tolerated to a certain extent,” he added.
Meanwhile, the AGF also reacted to the court order on the Central Bank of Nigeria to unfreeze bank accounts of #EndSARS promoters.
He explained that the law provides the Federal Government with other options which include the right to challenge or exercise further considerations on the matter if the need arises.
February 11, 2021
#EndSARS: CBN Must Desist From Jumping Into The Political Arena – Falana
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stay out of politics and stick to the business of banking.
Falana’s call was made in reaction to the unfreezing of bank accounts belonging to 20 #EndSARS promoters.
Following the #EndSARS protest that rocked the nation in October 2020, the CBN obtained an injunction from the court to freeze the accounts of certain individuals and a public affairs company linked to the #EndSARS protests, a move which Mr. Falana describes as a case of intimidation.
The human rights lawyer who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily argued that the apex bank went out of its way.
“I do hope that sufficient lessons have been learnt particularly by the Central Bank to desist from jumping into the political arena by attempting to freeze the accounts of people who are involved in the struggle one way or the other against the government,” he stated.
Falana further argued that the CBN misled the court into believing that some grave offenses had been committed, which would require time to run an investigation.
He however noted that no offense was committed and no attempt was made by the Central Bank to investigate any individual.
The lawyer urged the CBN to be more circumspect in the future, adding that the individuals whose accounts were frozen will be going to court to challenge the “gross violation” of their rights to their property.
February 11, 2021
#EndSARS: Court Orders CBN To Unfreeze Promoters’ Accounts
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to unfreeze the bank accounts of 20 #EndSARS promoters.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed gave the ruling following the agreement reached by parties in the suit to amicably resolve the matter.
The Judge while commending counsel to the CBN, Mr Michael Andoaka, and lawyer to the defendants, Mr. Femi Falana, ruled that “all processes filed in respect of the case are hereby deemed to have been withdrawn.”
Justice Mohammed then, set aside the November 4, 2020 order and ordered that all the accounts of the affected persons “be immediately defreezed.”
The CBN, in an exparte motion, had prayed the court to freeze the bank accounts of Bolatito Rachael Oduala and 19 others who participated in last year’s protest to end police brutality in the country.
The apex bank said it took the action to investigate the promoters of the protest on allegations bordering on terrorism financing, among others.
February 10, 2021
#EndSARS: Lagos judicial panel approves reopening of Lekki toll gate
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the alleged killing of End SARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate in October 2020, has approved the reopening of the toll plaza.
The panel on Saturday returned control of the Lekki toll gate plaza to its owners, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC).
The Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, delivered the ruling.
Justice Okuwobi listened to arguments for and against the application made by Demola Seriki, counsel to the LCC Ltd, for the re-opening of the facility.
It is the fourth time the LCC is making the application.
The other four members who sat with Justice Okuwobi are DIG Taiwo Lakanu (representing the police), Lucas Koyejo (from the National Human Rights Commission), Segun Awosanya (Segalink) and Oluwatoyin Odusanya (Director, Citizen’s Right).
Seriki, in his arguments, asked the panel to allow LCC take possession of the toll gate plaza, for the purpose of evaluating the damage done so as to make insurance claims needed to effect the necessary repairs which he says will last about 2 months.
Immediately after the panel ruling in his favour, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa walked in with the other three members of the panel, Patience Udoh (representing civil society), Rinuola Oduola and Temitope Majekodunmi (representing the youths).
They then delivered dissenting decisions stating they were not in support of the repossession and the reopening of the Lekki toll plaza.
February 6, 2021
#EndSARS Panel summons Abba Kyari over abuse
The Judicial Panel of Investigation on Incidences of Police Brutality in Akwa Ibom has summoned the leader of the disbanded IGP Intelligence Response Team, DCP. Abba Kyari over allegations of abuse of fundamental right, extortion and false accusation by one Maxwell George Edum
The petitioner, who is also a car dealer, in a memo, JPPB/memo/132 narrated to the panel on Monday how a team of Special Anti Robbery Squad supposedly at the instance of DCP Kyari led by one Inspector Friday whose operational code is MadDog invaded his car stand at No.164 Eket/Oron road, Eket and impounded his two vehicles, a Toyota hilux and a Toyota Tundra truck.
Edum said the team also arrested his staff, Mr Sampson Etukudo and took him alongside the vehicles to a police station in World Bank Housing Estate Umuahia, Abia State where he was detained over an allegation of buying stolen vehicles.
The petitioner further said during the period, he was at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu for a heart surgery, but directed his lawyers from office of Onyeama Onyeama and Associates to follow up the matter even as he furnished them with documents of the said vehicles
According to him, “my lawyers traced them to a police station in Abia State and demanded for the release of my staff and the two vehicles after presenting the documents of the vehicles, but, Maddog said we should bring Five Hundred Thousand Naira for the release of Sampson alone while withholding the vehicles. But my lawyers refused to negotiate payment with them but to go to court.
“When they returned to Eket without Sampson, Sampson’s family became worried because of the inhuman treatment meted on him in the police custody, they said I would be held responsible if anything happens to their son.
“One of the lawyers, Udoanwan Sambo was later sent to Abia State to know the situation of things and Maddog insisted on the payment of One Hundred Thousand Naira for Sampson’s release and another two Hundred Thousand Naira for the release of my vehicles. I was forced to pay the first One Hundred Thousand Naira for Sampson’s release. Then I later sent One Hundred and Seventy Thousand through Udoanwan Sambo’s Stanbic IBTC account number who in turn transferred to a nominated account by Insp Friday, a First bank account no 312742593 with the name , Chigbo Esther.”
He said, the Inspector infuriated by the underpayment, directed that the vehicles should not be released adding that, that was the period he went back for his cancer therapy in UNTH Enugu and could not leave the hospital because the doctors had warned against such attempt.
The petitioner said he was later discharged from the hospital, and on the 24th of April 2020 during the lockdown due to Coronavirus Pandemic, the Inspector invaded his house, broke his iron protectors and dragged him like a common criminal. He said he had to call the DPO of Eket Division who quickly intervened and later became interested in the matter.
The DPO according to the petitioner asked Inspector Friday to allow him complete his treatment until the lockdown was lifted which he obliged.
He told the panel that after then, the Inspector had inundated his cellphones with pictures he snapped with Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and that of the presidency with accompanying messages that the Governor was in support of what he was doing.
He further told the panel that on the 9th July, 2020, Inspector Friday came to Eket, at the DPO’s office with an acclaimed suspect who supposedly sold the stolen vehicles to him, proceeds of a kidnap incident in which the victims, a husband and wife were murdered
He said the Identification and interview before the DPO was full of absurdities, contradictions and ‘a mockery of what police investigations should be like, adding, ‘I have never met this mysterious car seller in my life’ as the suspect could not identify him if not for the help of a pointer in Insp. Friday’s team
“Even the period he said he sold the vehicles to me, I was in India for a major surgery and how could I have been there and be buying stolen vehicles here and the DPO dismissed the matter.
“But Insp Friday said he was not answerable to anyone, only DCP Kyari, who was behind the matter. The Inspector later called me one night and asked me to go to Umuahia for my vehicles which I did. But again he said he would not release the vehicles to me because my lawyers refused to advise me properly by giving him the complete money. He said the only option was for me to give him one of the vehicles and take one.
“I was highly annoyed with such utterances, I refused to do such, though I’ve told my lawyers to sue him but I didn’t have the resources to follow up the case because my health has deteriorated, customers had stopped coming to my car stand because they felt every car in the stand was stolen.
“For men of SARS, owning a flashy car especially hilux truck is an offence that can claim your life. I am alive today is by the grace of God and the intervention of my lawyers whose presence restrained them from taking my life but could not release my hilux vehicles till today.” He said
After the petitioner’s account, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Ifiok Ukana ((Rtd) directed that DCP Kyria appear before the panel and the matter was adjourned to February 9th, 2021.
February 1, 2021