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Tag: Ebun Adegboruwa

  • Bamise Ayanwole: FG, IGP tasked to take over murder case

    Bamise Ayanwole: FG, IGP tasked to take over murder case

    The federal government (FG) and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba have been tasked to take over the murder case of Bamise Ayanwole.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the FG and IGP Baba were tasked by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa to take over the murder case to guide against cover up.

    Adegboruwa in a statement stressed that the Lagos State has no business in the interrogation of a murder suspect, and feared that the case might be compromised.

    The lawyer, therefore, admonished the Lagos state government and the police not to compromise the ongoing investigation into the murder of the fashion designer.

    Recall that Oluwabamishe was murdered after boarding a BRT bus from Chevron bus stop at Ajah, enroute Oshodi in Lagos.

    Adegboruwa stressed that it will be in the interest of the police to come out clean and fetch other fleeing killing squad of the deceased, saying that he smells a rat and a conspiracy to do a cover-up in an attempt to scuttle ongoing investigation with a hurriedly packaged TV interview with the suspect driver.

    ”Events unfolding concerning the murder of Miss Oluwabamishe Ayanwole are as intriguing as they are worrisome. Following public outcry and media monitoring, the Lagos State Government hurriedly packaged the Bus Rapid Transfer driver for media interview, to give the impression that he was innocent of the crime.

    ”Some further revelations have now thrown up very serious questions that the Lagos State Government must answer, if it is not covering up this dastardly act of daylight murder.

    ”In a homicide matter of this magnitude, how can a prime suspect who was declared missing, be handed over to government by the security agencies?

    ”A video of his initial arrest showed that the driver confessed to having carnal knowledge of the deceased, in very remorseful fashion. He was dressed in shabby and disheveled attire, truly reflecting his fugitive status as of the time of his arrest”.

    ”Who then packaged a crime suspect, to turn out clean shaven, dressed in specially designed Lagos State Government outfit and now well tutored to claim innocence to set up the cock and bull story of hijack?

    ”Why was Lagos State Government romancing a murder suspect?

    ”And why was he paraded on a selected media of TV Continental, over which Lagos State has influence through patronage?

    ”What is the business of Lagos State in the interrogation of a murder suspect?

    “The Commissioner of Police had earlier addressed the press to the extent that the suspect had confessed to the crime before Lagos State emerged with the latter James Bond storyline,” he stated.

    Adegorunwa stressed that it will be a sad day for humanity in general should the government stoop so low to try to cover up a clear case of murder, just for public relations.

    He accused governor Sanwo-Olu of being a party to the packaged story being told by the driver, saying it doesn’t add up.

    The lawyer said that Lagos state police cannot be trusted to handle the murder case, because it had already surrendered a murder suspect still under investigation to the Lagos state Government for media packaging.

    He urged the federal government to take over the investigation of the case to avoid compromise in the murder case.

    “What interest is the government serving to cover up a clear case of blue murder?

    “Has there been other cases of ritual killings in BRT buses to which the government has become accustomed?

    “Why will a driver whose bus was hijacked and has thus become a victim himself then bolt away for days without reporting to his employers?

    “Your employee that was trusted with human carriage took your citizen who boarded the bus innocently based on trust that it’s a government outfit, your driver allegedly saw the citizen abducted, your driver drove the bus to you, he did not report the incident but handed over the bus and disappeared and after public outcry he was apprehended and all you do is dress him up for press interview to lie to the public, after killing an innocent girl?

    “What kind of government will do this wickedness and expect to earn the trust of its people?

    “It will be a sad day for humanity in general for a responsible government to stoop so low to try to cover up a clear case of murder, just for public relations. It is unthinkable that Governor Babajide Sanwoolu that we know would be a party to this nonsense story of hijack, which does not add up at all.

    “It is clear that the Lagos State police command cannot be trusted to handle this case, given that it surrendered a murder suspect still under investigation to the Lagos State Government for media packaging.

    “I therefore urge the federal government and the Inspector-General of Police to take over this investigation immediately, before the case is completely compromised,” Adegboruwa further stated.

  • Murdered Fashion Designer: FG ,IGP tasked to take over investigation

    Murdered Fashion Designer: FG ,IGP tasked to take over investigation

    A lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN has admonished the Lagos state government and the police not to compromise the investigation of the murdered fashion designer, Miss Oluwabamishe Ayanwole.
    Adegboruwa tasked the Federal Government and the Inspector General of police, Usman Baba to take over the investigation of the murder case of Oluwabamishe
    Recall that Oluwabamishe was murdered after boarding a BRT bus from Chevron bus stop at Ajah,enroute Oshodi in Lagos.
    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports the FG and IGP Baba were tasked by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun -Olu Adegboruwa to take over the investigation to guide against a cover up.
    Adegboruwa, in a statement stressed that it will be in the interest of the police to come out clean and fetch other fleeing killing squad of the deceased, saying that he smells a rat and a conspiracy to do a cover -up in an attempt to scuttle ongoing investigation with a hurriedly packaged TV interview with the suspect driver.
    ”Events unfolding concerning the murder of Miss Oluwabamishe Ayanwole are as intriguing as they are worrisome. Following public outcry and media monitoring, the Lagos State Government hurriedly packaged the Bus Rapid Transfer driver for media interview, to give the impression that he was innocent of the crime.
    ”Some further revelations have now thrown up very serious questions that the Lagos State Government must answer, if it is not covering up this dastardly act of daylight murder.
    ”In a homicide matter of this magnitude, how can a prime suspect who was declared missing, be handed over to government by the security agencies?
    ”A video of his initial arrest showed that the driver confessed to having carnal knowledge of the deceased, in very remorseful fashion. He was dressed in shabby and disheveled attire, truly reflecting his fugitive status as of the time of his arrest”.
    ”Who then packaged a crime suspect, to turn out clean shaven, dressed in specially designed Lagos State Government outfit and now well tutored to claim innocence to set up the cock and bull story of hijack?
    ”Why was Lagos State Government romancing a murder suspect?
    ”And why was he paraded on a selected media of TV Continental, over which Lagos State has influence through patronage?

    ”What is the business of Lagos State in the interrogation of a murder suspect?

    The Commissioner of Police had earlier addressed the press to the extent that the suspect had confessed to the crime before Lagos State emerged with the latter James Bond storyline”. He said
    Adegorunwa said ,it will be a sad day for humanity in general should the government stoop so low to try to cover up a clear case of murder, just for public relations. He accused governor Sanwo-Olu of being a party to the packaged story being told by the driver, saying it doesn’t add up.
    The lawyer said that Lagos state police cannot be trusted to handle the murder case , because it had already surrendered a murder suspect still under investigation to the Lagos state Government for media packaging.
    He urged the federal government to take over the investigation of the case to avoid compromise in the Murder case
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  • #EndSARS report: They wanted us to present false narratives that criminals, cultists, hoodlums, unknown gunmen operated at Lekki Toll Gate – Adegboruwa

    #EndSARS report: They wanted us to present false narratives that criminals, cultists, hoodlums, unknown gunmen operated at Lekki Toll Gate – Adegboruwa

    A member of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, says there are documents to defend the report submitted by the panel to the government.

    He said this on Friday in a statement titled ‘EndSARS Panel: I Acted on The Mandate of The Governor’, in reaction to the remarks by one of the senior counsels to the state government at the panel.

    Although he did not name the lawyer, Adegboruwa noted that the legal practitioner asked Nigerians to reject the report of the panel because he (Adegboruwa) signed it and was not present at some of the sittings.

    “There are documents to back up and defend the report submitted to the governor by the panel, but I have chosen to defer to His Excellency and to await the White Paper as promised because I believe that the governor meant well in setting up the panel and giving us free hand to operate.

    “I appeal to His Excellency to continue in that note of sincerity,” said the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

    “There is no minority report from the panel as the report submitted to the governor on November 15, 2021, was unanimously endorsed by all members of the panel, who worked tirelessly, day and night, to serve the government and the people, even at great risks to their health, personal safety, career and family obligations, and their general well-being.

    “I’m very sure that panel members would have been lionised to the highest heavens if we had bought into the narrative of the government before the panel that it was criminals, cultists, hoodlums, and unknown gunmen that operated at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.”

    Adegboruwa explained that he served on the panel on the mandate of Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who told him on the telephone that he was chosen to represent the civil society.

    He said he later requested an approval which was granted in writing, that his appointment was on a part-time basis.

    The governor, the lawyer narrated, told him that two members were chosen to represent the civil society on the panel to ensure one of them would always be present at the panel to excuse the absence of the other.

    “I accepted the appointment in good faith, to serve the people, to calm frayed nerves at the time, and also to restore normalcy to Lagos State,” he said. “So, at all times, I functioned in partnership with my colleague from civil society, and there was no major sitting of the panel in which both of us were absent.

    “I also served on the panel free of charge, from October 19, 2020, when the panel was inaugurated till November 15, 2021, when the panel submitted its report. The government was well aware of my identity, my perspectives, my philosophies and my general convictions, at least since my university days, before it nominated me into the Panel, that I will always say things the way they are.

    “All Panel members acted in good faith, independently and in the fear of God Almighty. My principled struggles in respect of toll fee collection started way back from 2011, almost nine years before the Panel was inaugurated.

    “Indeed, the governor said that these were the factors that favoured my selection as a member of the panel. Will I then deny myself, forfeit my reputation and discredit my constituency, my colleagues in the Nigerian Bar Association, and comrades in civil society, in order to please anybody or cover up the truth? NEVER!”

    According to Adegboruwa, it is improper to subject the report of the panel and the integrity of its members to media trials and attacks.

    He added that it would be uncharitable for the same government that urged the panel not to be held down by strict rules of technicalities of law in order to unravel the real truth about the Lekki tollgate incident, to now through its counsel and talk about alleged legal discrepancies to frustrate the good work of the panel that it set up.

    “I urge the government to focus on the findings and far-reaching recommendations contained in the report, in order to pursue the laudable objectives of setting up the panel to achieve true healing and reconciliation, instead of seeking to demonise panel members and their report or to evade responsibility,” the senior advocate said.

  • #EndSARS: Lagos judicial panel persecuted after Lekki ‘massacre’ report – Member

    #EndSARS: Lagos judicial panel persecuted after Lekki ‘massacre’ report – Member

    A member of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the investigation of the Lekki toll gate incident, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has raised alarm over the persecution of panel members since the report of its findings was submitted to the state government.

    Mr Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said in his statement on Thursday that members of the panel are being “unfairly persecuted,” and called names.

    “Since the submission of the EndSARS Panel Report to the Governor of Lagos State on November 15, 2021, members of the panel have become subject of vicious attacks by those suspected to be agents of the government.

    “All manner of allegations have been heaped upon panel members, some of who have been called unprintable names.

    “Just today, my attention has been drawn to an interview by a Senior Counsel to the Lagos State Government, to the effect that panel members collected bribe in the course of the assignment. It is unfair, ungodly, and least expected of the government and its lawyers,” Mr Adegboruwa said in the statement.

    The lawyer said no member of the panel canvassed to be appointed, as in his own case, the governor “appealed” to him to accept his appointment, which he saw as a call to national service.

    “The primary reason the governor gave to me then was that he wanted men and women of integrity, independent and not subject to manipulation, to be on the panel.”

    The judicial panel, in its report, said at least 46 unarmed protesters were either shot dead, injured with bullets, or assaulted by security forces at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20 last year.

    The panel said it found out that nine persons were killed, while 33 others were shot at, wounded, and assaulted on the night of the incident.

    Adegboruwa said although the Lagos State government asked for two weeks to enable it release a white paper on the panel’s report, it would seem that the government has “unleashed mindless propaganda upon panel members whilst at the same time asking for restraint from the general public.”

    The lawyer urged the Lagos state government to call its agents and lawyers to order so as not to provoke aggravated responses, adding that he has copies of all proceedings and exhibits tendered before the panel in respect of the Lekki tollgate incident.

    “It is unfair to seek to denigrate peoples’ hard-earned reputation on account only that they accepted to render selfless service at the behest of government. If the government and its agents are not restrained from attacking others, nothing stops us from defending our integrity.

     

    “I should not become a victim of unwarranted attack just because I accepted to serve the government and the outcome of that assignment did not favour the expectations of the government. Suffice it to mention that I worked with men and women of unblemished integrity and I’m proud to be associated with them all, ” Mr Adegboruwa said.

    He urged the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to call all agents of the state to order and to keep to his promise to release a white paper within two weeks, and also send the unedited report of the panel, to the National Economic Council.

     

  • #OccupyLekki: I cannot continue to sit at #EndSARS panel –Adegboruwa

    #OccupyLekki: I cannot continue to sit at #EndSARS panel –Adegboruwa

    Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), on Saturday, demanded for the unconditional release of all protesters arrested at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.

    The senior advocate said security agencies have not learnt any lessons from the occurrences of October 20th, 2020.

    Adegboruwa, who is also a member of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing alleged killing of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki toll gate, said he could not continue to sit at the panel when fresh assaults were being perpetrated with impunity.

    He revealed this in a statement titled, ‘The Arrest, Detention and Dehumanization of Protesters at Lekki Toll Gate Are Unacceptable’.

    He said, “I have been monitoring events at the Lekki Toll Gate since morning, and I am totally overwhelmed with the images, videos and sundry evidence of police brutality of armless civilians, who ventured to protest at the Toll Gate. In one particular video, I saw citizens of Nigeria being dehumanized, striped half naked and cramped together in a rickety bus. This is totally unacceptable.

    “While we are yet to come to terms with the events of October 20, 2020, it becomes worrisome that the security agencies have not learnt any positive lesson from those occurrences. I commend the protesters for their peaceful conduct.

    “I cannot in good conscience continue to sit at any Panel of Inquiry to heal wounds and end police brutality, when fresh assaults are being perpetrated with impunity. Consequently, I am presently consulting with my constituency within the civil society, as to my continued participation in the EndSARS Judicial Panel.

    “I hereby demand the immediate release of all those arrested in connection with the peaceful protest at the Lekki Toll Gate today. On no account should anything happen to any of them while in the custody of the police.

    “I appeal for calm on all sides, in order not to escalate the worsening security situation across the land. I cannot fail to point out the fact that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is a product of protest and civil disobedience. Let history vindicate the just. Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta!”

     

  • The Truth About COVID-19 in Nigeria, By Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN

    The Truth About COVID-19 in Nigeria, By Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN

    By Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN

    Yesterday, a friend called me that he was having difficulty breathing, he’s been weak and has pains in the heart.

    I immediately told him to race to Landmark isolation Centre in Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos. He went there straight but was turned back, as he was told that it’s only meant for those who have tested positive already. I encouraged him to wait till day break so he could go to Yaba, the main COVID 19 center in Lagos.

    On reaching out to Yaba, he was told to describe his symptoms on record by way of sms and send it. In response, he was told that he could not be tested this week again as they are already booked for this week. He will be programmed for next week for his test. So, what happens to him between now and next week?

    A similar situation was reported in Ajah early this week. They called NCDC in Lagos and they kept postponing the test. By the time NCDC officers got to Ajah the man had died and the family resisted them from carrying the corpse.

    So, the reality is that Nigeria has no capacity for COVID 19 presently and the govt is not telling us the truth.

    Please do all you can to stay safe, to be sure that you’re not infected at all, as it now takes prayer and connection to even be tested how much less get treated.

    What the NCDC told the nation is that people are not coming up for tests and that there is capacity.

    Please do all your best to stay safe and if you have any connection to help my friend get tested quickly, please do help me.

    God bless you all.

    Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN
    Lekki, Lagos.
    25/04/2020

  • Lockdown breach: Popular Lagos lawyer, Adegboruwa begs Sanwo-Olu to pardon Funke Akindele, others

    Lockdown breach: Popular Lagos lawyer, Adegboruwa begs Sanwo-Olu to pardon Funke Akindele, others

    Popular Lagos lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to grant state pardon to Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele.

    Akindele and her husband, Abdul Rasheed Bello, popularly known as JJC Skillz were arrested and charged to court for hosting a party during Coronavirus lockdown in Lagos.

    They were sentenced to 14-day community service and N100,000 fine each.

    While speaking with journalists in court on Thursday in Ogba, after the proceedings that terminated the charges brought against Babatunde Gbadamosi and Azeez Fashola (Naira Marley), the human rights activist appealed that Akindele should be granted reprieve, more so that she has demonstrated remorse for her conduct.

    According to him, since the federal government had granted amnesty to 2,600 prisoners, the governor should emulate this good gesture and show fatherly love to the Akindeles.

    “This should also be extended to all those arrested for jogging on the streets, as they could not have all set out deliberately to disobey the COVID 19 Regulation,” he said.

    He added that since “we are facing a novel situation at hand, government should show some magnanimity to its citizens, as is being done all over the world. Nigerians have never been locked down for this long, without food or money and it is not proper to add to their woes with arrest and prosecution.”

    He commended the steps so far taken by the government and urged all Nigerians to continue to cooperate with the government to end the scourge.