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Tag: Lekki Massacre

We might prosecute those indicted for Lekki massacre – Attorney General of Federation, Malami

Criminal proceedings may be initiated against any person found culpable in the reports of #ENDSARS Judicial Panels of Inquiry (JPI) and the government White Papers, the Federal Government hinted yesterday.

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, who dropped the hint in an interview on a Channels Television programme “Politics Today”, assured that the White Paper on the Lagos #EndSARS panel report will be reviewed by the federal government as soon those recommendations were brought before it.

Out of the 32 recommendations made by the Lagos JPI in its report of November 15, Lagos State the government accepted 11, rejected one and accepted six with modifications.

The White Paper advised the Lagos State Government to forward 14 of the JPI recommendations that fall outside its jurisdiction to the federal government for action.

According Malami (SAN), the government was waiting for the said recommendations meant for it, saying the federal government would not hesitate to critically examine those recommendations and initiate criminal proceedings where necessary.

He said: “We cannot rule out any possibility, because there may be need for criminal investigation on the matter and possibly prosecution.

He noted that till date, it could not be established whether live ammunitions were used on October 20, 2020 at Lekki Toll Gate.

“We can’t conclude that live ammunitions were used on October 20, 2020,” the chief law officer said.

Malami said the government will always engage in continuous reforms of its policies including security matters, to meet the present realities that will be beneficial to the public.

He said: “Change and perhaps, reforms are dynamic and not static. We had some in 2020, but we’ve always been guided by what’s unfolding in the country.

“As far as reforms are concerned, we will always do the needful to always meet present realities, though our reforms won’t be driven by ENDSARS agitations.”

The mister also said that judging from the Abuja court order obtained last Thursday by the government, all bandits are terrorists, adding that the process to gazette the order was ongoing.

The process to gazettee the order was a mere formality, he explained.

Malami said: “We’ve obtained an order in that regard and the process to get it gazette will be concluded soonest.”

He vowed that, going forward, terrorists will be ruthlessly and decisively dealt with.

On the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is standing trial, the minister said the case could be handled politically.

“As far as I know, Nnamdi Kanu has not been convicted, though he’s still standing trial till today. However, we cannot rule out any possibility when we get there, through political solution is not on the table right now,” Malami said.

December 2, 2021
BREAKING: “A massacre without bodies”, FG Insists Military Fired Blank Bullets Into The Air

The Federal Government on Thursday insisted that there were no mass killings at the Lekki toll gate in the wake of the #EndSARS protests contrary to the general belief.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this at a press conference in Abuja.

Mohammed said those who alleged massacre at the toll gate only succeeded in misleading the world.

He said while government awaits the outcome of the panel investigating the matter, “we can say that the world has just witnessed a massacre without bodies” in Lekki.

The minister insisted that the military did not shoot at protesters at the toll gate.

He asked anyone who has contrary proofs to make them available to the panel investigating the matter.

Mohammed said the government was satisfied with the way security agencies handled the protests.
The minister took a swipe at CNN for its piece on the Lekki incident, describing it as “blatantly irresponsible.”

He called for a sanction for the foreign media organisation but did not disclose where the sanction should come from.

Details later…

November 19, 2020
CNPP Calls for resignation of Buhari, Buratai, NBC DG over Lekki massacre

.. Accused them of cover-up shooting
..Calls for ICC investigation, proscusion

By Achadu Gabriel, KADUNA

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), the umbrella association of all registered political parties and political associations in the country, has called for the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari.
CNPP also called for the immediate resignation of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and the Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBA), Prof. Armstrong Aduku Idachaba, for not playing their roles in the shooting of unarmed protesters at Lekki Toll Gate and the unpatriotic attempt to cover up the extrajudicial killings Nigerians singing the National Anthem while protesting killings of their compatriots by security forces.
The Secretary General of the parties Chief Willy Ezugwu in a statement issued on Wednesday while reacting to the CNN’s investigative report that indicted the Nigerian Army in the Lekki Massacre, called on “the International Criminal Court (ICC) of Justice to investigate, arrest and prosecut them and other of their co-travellers for crimes against humanity.The body, in a release made available to our correspondent in Kaduna, stated their proscusion would served as deterrent to other African leaders who killed unarmed peaceful demonstrators, protesting bad policies of government and ENDSARS.”
“Nigerian democracy is in danger as the voice of opposition is being silenced by the Federal Government of Nigeria, using all arms of government and instrumentalities of the office of the executive to shut the voices of oppressed citizens
“It is now obvious that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration deliberately engaged the Director General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission to intimidate, harassed and stampid Nigerian broadcast media houses in a bid to cover up the Lekki Massacre by slamming unjustifiable N3 million fine on three television stations over reports on the killings.”As if the killings by the Nigerian Police, through its Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit, were not enough, President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian armed forces authorised the use of maximum force to disperse unarmed citizens protesting against bad leadership and extrajudicial killings in the country.”It is a shame that Nigerian government and Nigerian army have no respect for our national flag and Anthem.
“The outcome of CNN investigation now raises strong doubts on the loyalty or allegiance of the Nigerian security agencies to the Nigerian nation.
“Sovereignty belongs to the people and if the people for whom Nigerian President holds power in trust are now murdered in cold blood by their employees who are paid through their taxes, there is danger ahead for our democracy.
“To save Nigerian democracy, and all democracies in Africa, the International Criminal Court of Justice must now unmask all the state and non-state actors involved in the killing of Nigerian patriots at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
“The CNN was very conclusive when it noted on its website that ‘the Nigerian army has called the allegations that it (Army) fired into the crowd “fake news” and told a judicial panel of inquiry that it did not shoot at any civilian, but a new CNN investigation can reveal this is not true’.
“In view of the new CNN’s insights into the Lekki Massacre perpetrated by agents of the state on orders of the authorities of the Nigerian state, we demand the immediate resignation of their Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, and the Director General of the NBC, Prof. Armstrong Aduku Idachaba, for their anti-people roles in the killings and the attempts to cover up the massacre of unarmed Nigerian people at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 2020.
“If the Manuel Merino, President of Peru, resigned following the death of two protesters, it is time for President Buhari to resign if he still has any integrity left”, the CNPP said.

November 18, 2020
Lekki massacre: Nigerian Army denies shooting #EndSARS protesters, says Lagos govt asked its officers to intervene

The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA) has denied the allegation that soldiers opened fire on #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza on Tuesday, October 20.

In a statement released by the Acting Director Army Public Relations (ADPR), Major Osoba Olaniyi, the Division confirmed the involvement of soldiers in restoring order in Lagos following the imposition of a curfew on the state by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Read the statement below

“The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on social media in which it was alleged that civilian protesters were massacred by soldiers at Lekki Toll Plaza. This allegation is untrue, unfounded and aimed at causing anarchy in the country.
At no time did soldiers of the Nigerian Army open fire on any civilian. From the onset of the ENDSARS protest, there was no time personnel of 81 Division Nigerian Army Lagos were involved.
However, the decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State Government (LASG) after a 24- hour curfew was imposed.
This was as a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, policemen killed, suspects in police custody released and weapons carted away.
The situation was fast degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that LASG requested for the military to intervene in order to restore normalcy.
The intervention of the military followed all laid down procedures for Internal Security operations and all the soldiers involved acted within the confines of the Rules of Engagement (ROE) for Internal Security operations.
Finally, Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army reiterates Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities did not shoot at any civilian as there are glaring and convincing evidence to attest to this fact.
This allegation is the hand work of mischief makers who will stop at nothing to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army. The general public is hereby enjoined to discountenance this allegation as there is no iota of truth therein.”

October 28, 2020
#EndSARS: I haven’t spoken directly to President Buhari- Sanwo-Olu Reveals

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu says he is yet to speak with President Buhari over the gunshot incident that occurred at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday, October 20.

The Lagos state governor was on Arise TV on Thursday morning, October 22, where he spoke about the shootings. When asked if he has spoken to President Buhari since the incident, Sanwo-Olu said

”I made phone calls to the President. I made calls to want to speak with the President twice yesterday. First time he hadn’t come to the office and the second time, he was at the FEC meeting so I haven’t spoken to him directly but I actually did call to want to speak with him but like I said he was at FEC meeting and properly had his briefing.
So he was actually the one that asked the Chief of Defence Staff to call me and I think it was when he got my message because when the Chief of Defence Staff called me, he said to me it was the President that asked him to call.
So I haven’t spoken to him directly. Maybe sometime later today that might happen. I don’t have a report to say this was what he said because we haven’t spoken”

October 22, 2020
#EndSARS: NBA set to take legal actions against Nigeria Army Over Lekki Massacre

The military has been asked to immediately release the identity of soldiers that carried out the shooting of protesters at Lekki Toll Gate, Lagos State on Tuesday night.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) made the call while condemning the shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers in Lekki

President of NBA, Olumide Akpata, in a statement, faulted the incident.

We had earlier reported that End SARS protesters at the Lekki ground came under heavy fire by the military on Tuesday.

Bullets fired by security operatives hit some persons and at least two persons have been confirmed killed by the police and many injured

Voices in a viral footage blamed the shootings on soldiers.

“The Military High command is hereby requested to immediately identify and name the officers involved in this gross professional misconduct for immediate prosecution and dismissal in line with extant laws,” Akpata said.

“The NBA shall immediately commence legal proceedings at all relevant fora– both locally and internationally – against the Nigerian Military and other relevant authorities, on behalf of the families of the victims, for abuse of power, disregard of rules of engagement and the infringement of the fundamental rights (including the right to life) of the affected citizens.”.

Akpata pointed out that even if the protesters were in breach of the Lagos government’s curfew, such a misdemeanor did not warrant the use of live ammunition by the military.

“The NBA believes that the current situation in the country calls for dynamic leadership and, as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, invites the President of Nigeria and others in authority to show uncommon leadership in saving the situation, instead of deploying troops against defenceless citizens whom they swore an oath to protect,” the NBA president said.

October 21, 2020