One of the members of the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Inquiry which investigated the Lekki Toll Gate shooting of #EndSARS protesters, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has said he expects Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, will keep to his promise of the submitted report findings public.
Adegboruwa said this in a statement after the panel submitted its report on Monday.
The panel wrapped up its sitting over a year after soldiers shot into a crowd of young peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate. Following the submission, Governor Sanwo-Olu constituted a four-man panel to produce a White Paper on the report.
However, Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), in his reaction said it will be “unfair and improper” for Governor Sanwo-Olu to constitute a committee to review his panel’s report.
He added that “he will never subscribe to anything that would amount to covering up the report of the panel”.
The statement read: “In particular, the panel affirmed the rights of the people of Nigeria to constitutionally guaranteed freedom of lawful assembly and peaceful protests, freedom of association and freedom of expression,
“The panel made far-reaching recommendations concerning the major actors that were found culpable, to achieve true healing and reconciliation.
“Although I have my copy of the report of the panel, I will trust His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, to fulfil his promise to Nigerians to make the findings and recommendations of the panel public,” The statement noted.”
He further added that only to avoid a repeat of the incident the government should come out truthful and ensure the offenders are duly reprimanded.
The statement read: “That is the only way to build a true nation and avoid a repeat of the atrocious acts of security agencies against our people, especially the youths, the vulnerable and the helpless.
“In my view, it will be unfair and improper for Lagos state to be a judge in its cause, by seeking to review the report of the Panel.
“However, the governor explained to me that this would only be done to enable the government to implement the findings and recommendations of the Panel and not to tamper with it or mutilate it. I believe His Excellency.
“We have done our work in the best way that we could. Nigerians should demand justice against all culprits who have been named in detail, in our report.” Adegboruwa noted.
“I will keep observing the turn of events and at the appropriate time, one may be forced to state the full contents of the report if the promises made are not fulfilled. I can never and will never subscribe to anything that would amount to covering up the report of the panel.”
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