A Human Rights Lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has faulted the supposed discovery of a video camera recorder by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Sunday, at the Lekki toll gate, where peaceful EndSARS protesters were shot on order, on Tuesday night, October 20, 2020,
Adegboruwa said this in a statement on Monday, titled: “Usurpation of powers of the Panel of Inquiry on SARS abuses”.
Recall, that Fashola had while conducting a tour of the tragic site, alongside some Governors and Ministers from the South-West region of the country, miraculously discovered a camera at the toll gate, 5 days after the shooting of unarmed EndSARS protesters by Soldiers, and after thorough cleaning of the site earlier on.
However, Adegboruwa said that since the State Government had established an independent Panel of Inquiry to investigate what transpired at the toll gate, the Panel should be allowed to do its work, with no interference from likely-to-be compromised government Officials.
“Since the Panel has been vested with jurisdiction over the Lekki toll plaza, I verily believe that it is illegal for anyone else to conduct any visit to the said Lekki toll plaza, in the absence of, and without the authority and consent of the Panel.
“It was reported that in the course of the visit, the former Governor of Lagos State and the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), discovered a hidden camera, which he took. This is a clear case of illegally tampering with exhibits that may become useful to the Panel, in the course of its assignment.
“I appeal to the Governor of Lagos State, to allow the Panel the full autonomy and independence that was promised at the time of inauguration. It is contempt of the Panel, for anyone to usurp the powers of the Panel in the way that has been reported”, the statement read in part:
Many Nigerians have taken to social media to express disbelief and condemnation over Fashola’s discovery of the camera, which they deemed suspicious and foul play.
More news later…
