By Yusuf Boluwatife
The Lagos State Government has released its White Paper on the report of the Judicial Panel Inquiry on General Police Brutality Cases and Lekki Incident Investigation.
The White Paper which was released on Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, not only stated that the reports of the JPI lacked accuracy, evidence, regularity, with claims of death of victims, but also maintained that only 11 of all the 32 recommendations made by the JPI on the Lekki Toll Gate shooting were accepted.
The statement also added that one of the recommendation was rejected, six were accepted with modifications and 14 are beyond its powers and hence, would be forwarded to the Federal Government for consideration.
Accordingly, the state government said the report that 9 protesters were killed during the protest at the Lekki Toll Gate was baffling. It added the JPI lacked information about the circumstances of the death of the victims which were outlined on pages 297-298.
Furthermore, the statement explained that of the 11 deaths set on pages 297-298, two of the names– Kolade Sam, Folorunsho Olabisi, appeared twice as Nos. 37 and 38, describing this as “astonishing.”
“It is quite astonishing that in the list of eleven (11) deaths set on pages 297-298, two (2) of the names appeared twice (Kolade Salam, Folorunsho Olabisi as Nos. 37 and 38). Furthermore, the person ben, as No. 46 Nathaniel Solomon who testified as a witness and petit the JPI in respect of his brother who he alleged died at LTC, himself listed as having died at LTG on 20th October 2020,
“Remarkably, Nathaniel Solomon’s deceased brother (Abuta Solomon, was then also listed: as‘No.2 on the list of persons who died at LTG. The only victim of gunshot injury from LTG was picked up at 7:43, on 21st October 2020 after the curfew commenced (see page 99 Furthermore, there was no shred of evidence regarding who shot him.
“Another substantial inconsistency in the JPI Report was the award of compensation to only one (1) out of the alleged nine (9), listed as “deceased” which showed that the JPI itself had doubts as to the death of eight (8) other allegedly deceased persons on its list. See page 304 of the JPI Report.
“The JPI also surprisingly awarded the sum of N10M to one Serah Ibrahim (listed as No. 14 on Page 304 of the Report). Serah Ibrahi was neither a Petitioner nor a Claimant before the JPI. On Page 179 the Report, Serah Ibrahim testified on oath that she did not have a petition before the Panel; neither did she have any claims for compensation. This award to Serah Ibrahim is also contrary to t provisions of section 13 Tribunal of Inquiry Law 2015 (Cap. T6 La of Lagos State) which prescribes that only witnesses requested summoned by a Tribunal of Inquiry is entitled to witness fees subject to the consent of the Attorney General. Serah Ibrahim did not testify at the request or summons of the Tribunal. See pages 17-18 of the Report for the list of summoned witnesses,” the statement read in part.
On some other recommendations, the Lagos State Government said it has no control over the internal affairs of the Nigerian Police Force, adding that the recommendations will be forwarded to the appropriate authorities– Federal Government of Nigeria, National Economic Council, Police Service Commission and Nigerian Police Force.
It also said that it would set up a separate statewide Helpline for human rights abuses in addition to its existing emergency toll-free (767& 112) helplines.
Meanwhile, prior to the release of the White Paper, an argument had ensued between the Minister of State and Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, a member of the JPI, over the legality of the EndSARS report.
