Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), on Saturday,
called for the unconditional release of all protesters arrested at the Lekki
Toll Gate in Lagos.
The senior advocate said he was “saddened and devastated” by
the dehumanisation of the protesters by security operatives on Saturday.
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 stated 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!”
Popular comedian Debo
Adebayo, also known as Mr Macaroni, and about 30 other #OccupyLekkiTollgate
campaigners were arrested on Saturday for protesting at the Lekki toll gate
where they demanded that justice be served to the victims of the October 20
2020 #EndSARS protest at the toll plaza.
The panel had decided to hand over the tollgate back to its
operators, Lekki Concession Company. Four members of the panel including Adegboruwa
faulted the decision of the panel but the chairman of the panel, retired
Justice Doris Okuwobi, and four other members of the panel acceded to LCC’s
request to repossess the toll gate.
The #OccupyLekkiTollgate protesters, however, kicked against
the move, insisting that justice must be served to the victims of the Lekki
toll gate shooting of October 20, 2020.
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