TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lekki Toll Gate

  • #EndSARS: Forensic team denies indicting Nigerian Army, says integrity of Lekki Toll Gate compromised before analysis

    #EndSARS: Forensic team denies indicting Nigerian Army, says integrity of Lekki Toll Gate compromised before analysis

    The forensic team that presented its report to the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Friday said the integrity of the scene of the Lekki Toll Gate shooting had been compromised long before forensic investigations.

    Managing Director of Sentinel Forensics Limited, Mr Joseph Funsho-Ako, explained that the compromise was because the team visited the toll gate, 87 days after the October 20, 2020 incident.

    He added that the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) had even carried out a clean-up of the area before the visit by the forensic team.

    Funsho-Ako spoke about the incident in a testimony when he appeared on Saturday before the Lagos Judicial Panel on restitution for victims of SARS-related abuses and other matters.

    He later answered questions under cross-examination from the counsel to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bernard Onigah.

    In the process, he explained that based on the information that the area had been cleaned up earlier, his firm called LAWMA, requesting information that could help with its forensic investigations, but they did not get any response.

    On the ballistic evidence, he affirmed that the live ammunition presented by the Nigerian Army was of the same calibre as the cartridge casing submitted by the panel.

    But the witness stressed the need for further analysis, to determine whether the expended live ammunition casings were fired by the army.

    Meanwhile, Funsho-Ako has refuted what he described as “false publications” on the testimony his firm gave before the panel on Friday.

    He faulted the reports suggesting that his team’s findings indicted the Nigerian Army in the shooting of peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll plaza in October 2020.

    “This biased and unbalanced reporting is false and fake news,” said the witness. “Our forensic specialist commented on record that following an extensive scene investigation at the Lekki Toll Plaza (TP1) by our team of specialists, about 87 days after the incident, there was an absence of any physical evidence supporting the allegations of discharge of live ammunition by Nigerian Army personnel.

    “This scene investigation was conducted days after Sentinel Forensics Limited was engaged by the judicial panel of inquiry.”

    With respect to the ballistic evidence presented to the specialists for forensic examination by the panel, they found that two cartridge casings (expended/fired) of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition was tendered by the judicial panel as evidence recovered at the scene, while one unit of live (unexpended/not fired) ammunition and one unit of cartridge case (expended/fired round) 7.62 x 39mm ammunition was tendered by the Nigerian Army.

    The Nigerian Army was also said to have tendered a unit of blank (unexpended/not fired) 7.62 x 51mm ammunition and a unit of blank (expended/fired round) 7.62 x 51mm ammunition.

    The witness had told the panel on Friday, among other things, that the live ammunition tendered as exhibit by the Nigerian Army was of the same type of cartridge and calibre as the ammunition casings tendered by the judicial panel which was 7.62 x 39mm.

    He added that the blank ammunition tendered was of a different cartridge type 7.62mm x 51mm.

    The firm had also released a statement and its representative stressed this position on Saturday, at the resumed hearing, saying their job was not to ascribe guilt or innocence on anyone, but only to provide clarification to help the panel reach its decision on the matter.

    In her reaction, the chairperson of the judicial panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, asked the media to be professional and responsible in its reportage of the public hearing.

  • [JUST IN] #EndSARS: Forensic expert confirms bullets fired at protesters in Lekki Toll Gate from Nigerian Army

    [JUST IN] #EndSARS: Forensic expert confirms bullets fired at protesters in Lekki Toll Gate from Nigerian Army

    A forensics company, Sentinel Forensic Limited, has said that bullets expelled from firearms during the #EndSARS protest in Lagos on October 20, 2020, were from the Nigerian Army.

    The company’s representative, Joseph Kayode Funsho, disclosed this during an appearance before the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution which sat on Friday.

    According to Funsho, the live ammunition (bullets) were discovered to have been registered to the Nigerian Army.

    He, however, said the blanks didn’t match the records from the Nigerian Army’s inventory.

    The case was, thereafter, adjourned to Saturday, September 11, for further hearing.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG however observed that the company’s findings seem contrary to claims of the Nigerian Army.

    TNG reports that in November 2020, Commander of the 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Brigadier Ahmed Taiwo, who appeared before the Judicial Panel insisted that only blank bullets containing gunpowder were fired at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20.

    He also insisted that the military only fired into the air and not directly at the #EndSARS protesters.

    While explaining that the blank bullets used, cannot cause any damage to the flesh, Brigadier Taiwo said if real bullets were indeed fired, one bullet had the potency to kill three persons at one shot.

  • #EndSARS: Company reveals who gave orders to turn off billboard at Lekki Toll Gate

    #EndSARS: Company reveals who gave orders to turn off billboard at Lekki Toll Gate

    Loatsad Promo-media Ltd, the company that manages the billboard advertising at the Lekki Toll gate concluded its testimony on Saturday before the Lagos State Judicial Panel on restitution for victims of SARS related abuses and other matters.

    Last week, the Company Secretary, Abimbola Eniola appeared before the panel in response to summons issued on it to come and assist with the investigations into the incident of Oct 20, 2020.

    Under cross-examination on Saturday by Adesina Ogunlana, counsel to some of the #EndSars Protesters, Mr Eniola said the billboard at the Lekki toll gate does not serve the purpose of illuminating the toll-grounds.

    The witness was answering questions as to who gave the order for the billboard to be turned off.

    The advert company had come under criticism on social media for turning off the billboard and throwing the Lekki toll gate into darkness which allegedly provided cover for Soldiers to open fire on the #EndSars protesters on the night of Oct 20, 2020.

    Counsel to some of the protesters, Mr Ogunlana specifically asked the witness, “Who gave the order to switch off the billboard?”

    In his response, Mr Eniola said, it was the head of Human Resources, Chisa Olabode via the workers’ Whatsapp group chat who gave the directive to turn off the billboard following the state wide curfew announced by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    He said that after the HR circulated, on the WhatsApp group, the notice of curfew imposed by the state government, the billboards were shut off as members of staff vacated the office by 3pm in order to get home before the initial 4pm announced for the curfew.

    A second witness, Serah Ibrahim, who had testified that at least 12 people were killed at the Lekki tollgate failed to appear before the panel on Saturday on account of ill-health.

    A third witness, Dr Ayobami Aranmolate of Grandville Medical Centre, told the panel that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria was not happy that he had divulged certain confidential records of patients at his last testimony.

    He pleaded with the panel to order the television cameras to be turned off before he could give his testimony. The panel obliged his request and ordered that his testimony not be recorded.

  • #EndSARS: New twist as witness plays video that claims Army shot protesters at Lekki Toll Gate

    #EndSARS: New twist as witness plays video that claims Army shot protesters at Lekki Toll Gate

    The Lagos State judicial panel on restitution for victims of SARS related abuses resumed sitting on Saturday with the continuation of the testimony of an EndSARs co-ordinator, Serah Ibrahim.

    Serah came along with several videos, some of which she said she shot personally with her iPhone.

    One after the other, she played the videos which according to her demonstrates that soldiers shot at peaceful protesters on the night of October 20.

    As she played the videos, she explained to the panel that soldiers shot at the harmless protesters and even took away some of the dead bodies.

    She specifically mentioned that one of the active protesters, Lekan Sanusi was thought to be dead and the soldiers took away his body.

    She later found out that he was taken to MRS Hospital at Bonny camp where an unidentified nurse helped him to escape.

    Serah also played videos of some persons who suffered gunshot wounds from bullets allegedly shot by the military with protesters surrounding them and trying to tend to their wounds.

    When asked if she could authenticate the videos as to the time they were taken and the location, she mentioned that anyone could do this using Google Drive and she proceeded to demonstrate how it could be done.

    The videos of two mothers who claimed to have lost their children at the protest ground were also played.

    The videos were contained in the flash drive Serah Ibrahim tendered at the last sitting of the panel.

    Serah is expected to continue her testimony on May 15.

    Serah’s testimony is the latest development in the controversy that has trailed the events at the Lekki toll gate on the night of October 20.

    The army has repeatedly denied that it fatally shot at protesters and the Federal Government has said reports of a massacre at the toll gate was fake news.

  • Falana blasts U.S. Govt: Your report on Lekki Toll Gate shootings contradictory, misleading

    Falana blasts U.S. Govt: Your report on Lekki Toll Gate shootings contradictory, misleading

    Popular human rights activist and lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) on Thursday said a report by the United States of America (U.S.A) on Lekki Toll Plaza killings is contradictory and misleading.

    He also said the report was prejudicial in view of the current sitting of the panel of enquiry set up by the Lagos State government into the matter.

    The lawyer urged the panel members to ignore it.

    In a statement in Lagos, Falana said the report attempted to cover up the killings at Lekki and other parts of the state from October 20 to 27, 2020.

    He said: “On the one hand, the report claimed that the members of the security forces were enforcing curfew by firing into the air to disperse protesters at the toll plaza. On the other hand, the report states that some protesters had turned violent after criminal elements infiltrated them and so the security forces fired protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate.”

    The lawyer noted that the report did not mention the detachment of soldiers, who he said allegedly caused the mayhem.

    “Do soldiers shoot into the air to enforce curfew in the United States? How can the United States Government be allowed to treat the proceedings before a properly constituted Judicial Panel of Enquiry so contemptuously?” he asked.

    Falana added: “The report is prejudicial in every material particular. It should be ignored by the Judicial Panel as it is designed to preempt the evidence being adduced by the survivors of the barbaric attack.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the United States Government had in its report on Wednesday said that information on the number of fatalities recorded during the #ENDSARS protests in Lekki Tollgate last year, is not available.

    According to the US Department of State’s 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, “Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end”.

  • #EndSARS Protests: Claims of killings at Lekki Toll Gate unverified – U.S. Government

    #EndSARS Protests: Claims of killings at Lekki Toll Gate unverified – U.S. Government

    The United States Government has said that information on the number of fatalities recorded during the #ENDSARS protests in Lekki Tollgate last year, is not available.

    According to the US Department of State’s 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, “Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end”.

    It says: “On Oct. 20, members of the security forces enforced curfew by firing shots into the air to disperse protesters, who had gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos to protest abusive practices by the Nigerian Police Force’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

    “Accurate information on fatalities resulting from the shooting was not available at year’s end.

    “Amnesty International reported 10 persons died during the event, but the government disputed Amnesty’s report, and no other organisation was able to verify the claim.

    “The government reported two deaths connected to the event. One body from the toll gate showed signs of blunt force trauma.

    “A second body from another location in Lagos State had bullet wounds. The government acknowledged that soldiers armed with live ammunition were present at the Lekki Toll Gate,” part of the report stated.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG notes that the report is contrary to claims by the CNN, which initially reported 38 protesters were killed during the incident, a claim the Federal Government vehemently rejected.

    TNG reports that year’s end, the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution continued to hear testimony and investigate the shooting at Lekki Toll Gate.

     

  • #EndSARS: ‘Who ordered the shootings at Lekki Toll Gate?’, Nigerians ask five months after incident

    #EndSARS: ‘Who ordered the shootings at Lekki Toll Gate?’, Nigerians ask five months after incident

    Young Nigerians have again taken to their social media accounts to demand answers to the perpetrators of the ugly incident at the Lekki Toll Gate five months after.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG recalls that protesters who were demanding an end to police brutality and good governance in the country had converged at the toll gate before being shot by armed security personnel on October 20, 2020.

    Several are feared killed, while many others sustained gunshot wounds.

    Following the incident, the National Economic Council (NEC) which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo chairs, had unanimously agreed to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to address the cases of victims of police brutality and compensate their families.

    The panel was inaugurated by state governors across the country with members given a six-month period to function and forward its recommendations to the state governments.

    However Nigerians seem not to be pleased that five months after the nation experienced what could be termed as a ‘Black Tuesday’, the authorities are yet to fish out the security operatives who shot at the innocent protesters.

    In addition, they are demanding answers as to who ordered the shootings as well as the arraignment and prosecution of the military personnel.

    TNG observed that as today, (Saturday, March, 2021) marks the five month remembrance of the incident, Nigerians in their thousands on social media (particularly Twitter) trended #LekkiMassacre demanding the fishing out and prosecution of those involved in the shooting of innocent protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate.

    See some of the posts below:

  • [Photos/Video] Police deploy heavily armed operatives to Lekki ahead of planned protests today

    [Photos/Video] Police deploy heavily armed operatives to Lekki ahead of planned protests today

    Less than 24 hours to the planned protest at the Lekki Toll Gate by some aggrieved youths, police authorities in the state have launched a show of force exercise to express its disapproval of the protest.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that policemen from the Rapid Response team staged a walk round the toll gate on Friday as they prepare to take positions in the area and other parts of the state on Saturday.

    This is also coming less than 24 hours after the Federal and State governments warned youths not to embark on the protest, as they raised concerns that it may be hijacked by hoodlums and lead to lawlessness.

    https://twitter.com/Darlordzson/status/1360329004859940868?s=20

    The planned protest is in reaction to the decision of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution to return control of the Lekki Toll Gate plaza to its owners, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC).

    The toll gate had been one of the major converging points for the protesters in Lagos last year and was also the location for the infamous #LekkiShootings, masterminded by security operatives particularly men of the Nigerian Army.

    During the proceedings last Saturday the Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, gave a ruling allowing the LCC to repossess the toll gate

    But many Nigerians believe that the toll gate should remain closed in honour of those who lost their lives to the incident, hence sparking the new movement, #OccupyLekki.

    Meanwhile, a counter-group promoting the hashtag #DefendLagos also scheduled its protest at the same venue.

  • [TRENDING] #OccupyLekkiTollGate: Nigerians launch fresh protests over reopening of Lekki Tollgate

    [TRENDING] #OccupyLekkiTollGate: Nigerians launch fresh protests over reopening of Lekki Tollgate

    Sequel to the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reopen the Lekki Tollgate, many Nigerians mostly youths, have taken to social media announcing intentions to stage another protest.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that youth representatives at panel on Saturday had opposed the reopening of the Lekki toll gate arguing that reopening the toll-gate at this time would be hasty and premature.

    The argument over the weekend however did not sway the votes as the panel voted in favour of a return of the tollgate to Lekki Concession Company (LCC).

    Reacting to this decision, many Nigerians took to Twitter calling out the panel for approving the release of the toll gate when investigations into the Lekki shootings are still ongoing.

    According to those threatening to stage another protest come Saturday, February 13, no thought of reopening should be heard at the moment, not when no one has been held accountable for the killing of unarmed protesters, who marched against police brutality on the night of October 20.

    The emerging push for another long is currently being anchored on the hashtag #OccupyLekkiTollGate which has been trending on Twitter.

    See reactions below:

     

    https://twitter.com/oloye__/status/1358768196933857283?s=20

     

  • #ENDSARS: Lagos panel hands over Lekki Toll Gate to owners, approves reopening

    #ENDSARS: Lagos panel hands over Lekki Toll Gate to owners, approves reopening

    The Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for victims of police brutality and other related matters has returned control of the Lekki toll gate plaza to its owners, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC).

    During the proceedings on Saturday, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, gave a ruling allowing the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) Ltd to repossess the toll gate.

    Justice Okuwobi sitting with four other members of the panel listened to arguments for and against the application made by counsel to the LCC Ltd, Demola Seriki for the re-opening of the facility.

    It’s the 4th time the LCC is making the application.

    The other four members who sat with Justice Okuwobi are Segun Awosanya (popularly known as Segalink), Oluwatoyin Odusanya (Director, Citizen’s Right), DIG Taiwo Lakanu ( representing the police) and Lucas Koyejo (from the National Human Rights Commission).

    In his arguments in support of the application, Mr Seriki asked the panel to allow the company take possession of the toll gate plaza for the purpose of evaluating the damage done so as to be able to make insurance claims needed to effect the necessary repairs which he says will last about 2 months.

    Immediately after the panel ruling in his favour, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa walked in with the other three members of the panel, Patience Udoh (representing civil society), Rinuola Oduola and Temitope Majekodunmi (representing the youths).

    They all proceeded to deliver dissenting decisions to the effect that they were not in support of the repossession and the reopening of the Lekki toll plaza.

    More details later…