EndSARS, Lagos Panel And The Nigerian Government: Beyond The Report -By Abiodun S. Adesanya

Having read the LAGOS STATE JUDICIAL PANEL OF INQUIRY ON RESTITUTION FOR VICTIMS OF SARS RELATED ABUSES AND OTHER MATTERS released on the 15th of November, 2021, I consider it praiseworthy to say that the panel has done a great job, at least to the best of her knowledge. The 309-pages encapsulate the scenarios before, during and aftermath of the October 20th 2020 massacre of unarmed and peaceful protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate. It would be recalled that the protest which started around early October of that fateful year was against police brutality, call for reformation of the Police Force and an end to all form of injustice emanating from the agent of government.

The gory incidence at Lekki Toll Gate arose questions in the minds of Nigerians as to (among others); who ordered the shooting? was any casualty recorded as denied by Alhaji Lai Muhammad? But I must say that the Hon. Justice Doris Okuwobi-led Panel has done a great job by revealing the truth. The panel was able to establish that at the Lekki Toll Gate, officers of the Nigerian Army shot, injured and killed unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters, without provocation or justification, while they were waving the Nigerian Flag and singing the National Anthem and the manner of assault and killing could in context be described as a massacre. It was founded that there was manipulation of the CCTV by the Lekki Concession Company so as to avoid coverage of the massacre and that Governor ‘Jide Sanwo-Olu was the one who actually called upon the Nigerian Army to ‘slaughter’ the protesters. In fact, there were attempts to cover up all evidence. Little wonder the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Muhammad who has been perceived by many Nigerians to always deny blatant truths had on many occasions denied the massacre on the pretext that there is no evidence. Even the Panel, at a visit to the locus in quo, recovered two expended live bullets days after the inhumane action.

Accordingly, Sc.14(b) CFRN 1999 expressly provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. On no occasion should the government take the life of her citizens except as prescribed by law [Sc. 33(2) CFRN 1999].

However, justice should not only be done but must manifestly be seen to have been done. It is one thing to come up with a report, it is another to act on recommendations embedded in such report. When issues like this arise in a country like ours, one would at best be hopeful that actions are taken. Or what should we say to the non-implementation of 2014 National Confab till date. Would the White Paper been demanded by Governor Sanwo-olu negate the findings of the Lagos Panel? Why should President Buhari wait for other states’ reports before acting on that of Lagos? As William E. Gladstone puts it, “Justice delayed is justice denied.” Kudos to the Lagos Panel for compensating some deserving victims, but what happens to their perpetuators who intentionally failed to appear before the panel? Justice is in tripartite way; justice to the victim, justice to the accused and justice to the society.

Abiodun S. Adesanya
(Hon. Lincoln) writes from Faculty of Law, OAU
09035550605
abiodunsamuel252@gmail.com