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Lagos Judicial Panel Continues Sitting
The Lagos State Judicial Panel on the restitution of victims of SARS brutality and other matters has continued its sitting.
During Friday’s session, six petitions were listed for hearing, which involved Okoliagu Abunike vs the FSARS, further hearing on the Lekki Concession Company, as well as Emmanuel Ajomafuwe vs the Nigeria Police Force.
Others are Adeyemo Rotimi vs FSARS, Felix Lucky vs the Nigeria Police Force, and Marc Chidiebere Nwadi vs the Nigeria Police Force.
At the commencement of the sitting, the first case was adjourned until December 18, following the absence of the petitioner, Okoliagu Abunike.
Thereafter, the counsel to the #EndSARS protesters, Adeshina Ogunlana, requested that some clips of the CCTV footage of the Lekki tollgate be viewed to ascertain if the camera was automatically or manually operated.
According to him, there are changes in the time of the camera operation on October 20 – the day soldiers shot to disperse protesters at the Lekki tollgate.
The Managing Director of the LCC, Abayomi Omomuwasan, however, affirmed that the cameras were preset to work automatically.
December 11, 2020
BREAKING: 15 Lekki shooting victims storm Lagos Judicial Panel
15 protesters who suffered gunshot wounds during the #EndSARS protests in Lagos have visited the Lagos State Court of Arbitration and Mediation in Lekki, venue of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and other matters.
14 of them were said to have been shot at Lekki Toll Gate on the evening of October 20, while one was said to have been shot Ojodu Berger.
In their entourage was Mr Nathaniel Solomon, whose younger brother Abouta Solomon was said to have been shot dead at the toll gate.
The deceased has since been buried in his hometown in Mubi Local Government Area of Adamawa State, and Aiyedungbe Olufunmi Grace, whose brother died at LASUTH after suffering gunshot wounds to the head.
Grace told The Nation that after her brother’s death, the hospital authorities changed the story and said he died of COVID-19.
The Nigerian Army has denied allegations that it shot at peaceful protesters, saying it merely fired blanks into the air to disperse stone throwers.
Details shortly….
December 4, 2020
‘Policemen Shot Me, Killed My Girlfriend,’ Man Tells Lagos Judicial Panel
A man, Emmanuel Akomafuwe, has narrated how he and his girlfriend (Adaugo) were stopped by men of the defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) around 7 pm on April 13, 2019.
He narrated his ordeal when appearing before the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Police Brutality in Lekki on Saturday.
Akomafuwe, who was the first petitioner in today’s hearing, said when he sought to know why they were stopped, an argument ensued and he was shot in the head by a police officer, he later came to know as Inspector Dan Ojo. The Inspector also shot his girlfriend, Adaugo in the stomach and leg.
He alleged that after the shooting, the police officers who six in number took to their heels and left them at the scene to die.
He is however lucky that he’s still alive but sad that his girlfriend, later died in the hospital.
“The officers involved are living their lives. Some of them were arrested but they have been released. None of them have been punished,” he said.
“The news of the incident was published in the newspapers and after this, the commissioner of police promised to pay my hospital bills but this did not happen and the police never returned to visit.
“I did scans on my skull and brain at Reddington, and also checked in Dubai. My sanity hasn’t been the same since the incident and I still can’t sleep without pills.
The petitioner said he wants the panel to remind the Nigerian Police Force of his case and ensure that Inspector Dan Ojo is arrested and punished. He also wants the police to fulfill its promises and pay his hospital bills.
The Police counsel however asked for more time to enable them to review the petition.
According to the counsel, the police just became aware of the case and many officers are said to be involved, so there’s a need for time to track them.
The panel adjourned the petition to Dec 11 for the cross-examination of the petitioner.
November 28, 2020
#EndSARS: Four Petitioners To Give Testimony Before Lagos Judicial Panel Of Inquiry
The Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up by the Lagos State Government to investigate cases of police brutality and extrajudicial killings has commenced its 12th sitting.
At today’s hearing, four petitioners are expected to give their testimonies including a further hearing by Mr. Okoliagu Abunike who had alleged that he had lost two of his teeth in an encounter with officers of the now-defunt Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS).
Others include a lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje, Mr Basil Chetal Ejiagwa and Francis Idum.
The session started with the cross-examination of Mr Abunike who is being cross-examined by the counsel to the police, Emmanuel Eze.
On October 27, Abunike, a father of five, told the panel that in 2012, The Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) operatives detained and tortured him for 47 days at their Ikeja office, without trial.
According to him, he had been invited to a police station in the Ojo area of the state for some clarification over the disappearance of some goods at his former place of work.
Upon honouring the invitation, he said he was immediately arrested and was handed over to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Ikeja.
“I was like what is going on? And they said there was a complaint against me from my boss that something happened, and goods got missing.
“I said well, my boss has to come here so that we can iron out whatever issues because something like that has happened before and they called me to go back and resume (work), that it was a mistake on their system. After we waited for the whole day, nothing happened. The next day, they brought me back to Ojo from Ikeja, with so much threats.
“My boss did not even show up, then they started beating me, calling me a thief, fraudster and all that. They paraded me round the whole Alaba International Market, they asked me to stand straight in their vehicle, showing my face; they even took me to my church,” the petitioner said while narrating his ordeal in the hands of the security operatives.
November 24, 2020
#EndSARS: Drama as protesters appear before Lagos Judicial Panel as witnesses
Drama ensured at the Lagos state Judicial Panel On Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters currently sitting at Lekki Lagos after three of the #EndSARS protesters presented themselves in court as witnesses.
The protesters identified as Victoria Oniru, Dabira Ayuku, and Perpetual Kamsiyuchukwu, were presented before the panel by their legal counsel, Adesina Ogunlana.
Before they were presented before the panel, a lawyer to the Lagos state government, I. J Okechukwu, opposed the presentation of #EndSARS protesters before the panel, arguing that #EndSARS is not a legal entity and its faceless.
“There is no entity called “EndSARS protesters. My learned friend is entitled to represent anybody that is known to law. We cannot have anybody appearing for a body that is not known to law, no leader, no structure. EndSARS protesters is a nebulous entity,” said Okechukwu
Rotimi Seriki, counsel for the Lekki Concession Company, (LLC), aligned with the government lawyer. He also said the LCC was not an “interested party” in the matter but invited because “the panel that feels it might have relevant evidence to assist it. We cannot allow every Tom, Dick, and Harry to represent,” he concluded.
Ogunlana retorted that he did not just appear at the panel without prior instruction of his clients. He went on to call out three persons, whom he said were part of protesters and had hired him to represent them.
“I am not representing spirits or ghosts. We’re here, to tell the truth. These are part of the people running underground being threatened,” Ogunlana said in response to the objection by Owonikoko and Seriki.
November 6, 2020
Lekki shootings: LCC finally submits footage to Lagos Judicial Panel
The Lekki Concession Company, operators of the Lekki toll gate, has submitted video footage recorded by its surveillance camera on the night of October 20, 2020, when soldiers allegedly opened fire on #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate.
The Managing Director of LCC, Abayomi Omomuwa, submitted the video footage on Tuesday to the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government to probe the Lekki shootings as well as complaints of human rights abuses against members of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
Tendering the video footage to the panel, Omomuwa said, “I can confirm that inside here is the video footage that our surveillance camera was able to record for the 20th of October.”
Details later…
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November 3, 2020
How I lost 2 pregnancies in SARS custody, teacher tells Lagos Judicial Panel
A teacher, Mrs Ndubisi Obiechina, has narrated how she lost two pregnancies while in custody of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) over a suspect to which she was distantly acquainted.
Narrating her ordeal before the Lagos State Judicial Panel on EndSARS protest, Ndubisi said that she was detained and tortured along with her husband, Okwuchukwu, for 22 days by SARS in 2017.
“They brutalised me in the name of interrogating me. As a pregnant woman, I did not eat or drink for one week and in the process I lost the baby.
“It was later after I left SARS that I went to the hospital that I found that the baby was gone, and I had to flush it out,” she said.x
The teacher identified some of the SARS officers who allegedly tortured the couple as Phillip Rieninwa, Christian and Haruna Idowu.
She said she was pregnant again during her husband’s second arrest, adding that Okwuchukwu was released following an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
“Due to the emotional trauma, I lost my second pregnancy. We sued SARS at the Federal High Court and we were awarded N2 million damages for the torture and brutality.
“Since then they have not paid the money. The case was taken to the Appeal Court and it was dismissed and till now they (SARS) have not done anything,” she said.
Ndubisi alleged that SARS officers also collected N50,000 from her husband, while the duo had to bail themselves with a total of N400,000 from SARS custody.
Reports had it that a copy of the judgment the couple obtained against SARS was admitted into evidence by the nine-member Judicial Panel.
The Chairman of the panel, Retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, noted that hearing of Obiechinas’ petition had to be adjourned because names of some SARS officials had been mentioned.
“Those SARS officers have to be brought here so that we can hear their own side of the story. This petition is adjourned to Nov. 10,” she said.
November 1, 2020
Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry visit Lekki tollgate, discover bullet shells on the floor
The Lagos State judicial panel of inquiry into brutality and high handedness by the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), on Friday October 30, visited the Lekki Toll Gate where the shooting of End SARS protesters took place on Tuesday, October 20.
Led by the Chairman, Retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, the panel questioned the Lekki Tollgate officials about the condition of their cameras and other equipment.
The Managing Director of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), Mr Yomi Omomuwansa while taking the panel round the facilities said most of their equipment was damaged as they were set ablaze by hoodlums following the shooting of EndSARS protesters at the toll gate.
The panel during the visit discovered bullet shells on the floor which were collected as exhibits.
October 30, 2020
#EndSARS: Outrage as Lagos Judicial panel issues oath of secrecy to youth reps
Nigerian youths have opposed the oath of secrecy issued to their representatives on the Lagos panel probing the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
The judicial body was constituted by the state government on October 15.
Rinu Oduala and Temitope Majekodunmi joined Lagos Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims on Tuesday.
The oath given to them to sign leaked to social media and respondents are upset.
Many have insisted that details of hearings must be made public.
Meanwhile, the panel reportedly withdrew the oath before swearing in the youth reps.
Moe Odele, an End SARS advocate and co-founder of the Feminist Coalition, gave the update.
“This has been rejected after concerns were raised and a dialogue was held this morning. The panelists will not be signing this document,” the lawyer tweeted.
Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, Olumide Apata, journalists, observers, among others are at the venue of the sitting.
Oduala, Majekodunmi and other panel members are tasked with listening to the submissions of SARS survivors, interrogating the accused personnel, and determining the veracity of all claims.
They will also recommend punishments for the guilty and appropriate compensation for the victims.
The panel will sit on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm at the Lagos Court of Arbitration at Remi Olowude Street, in Lekki.
October 27, 2020