One of the #EndSARS protesters lawyers, Adesina Ogunlana,
says more than nine protesters were killed at the Lekki tollgate on October 20,
2020.
He explained that the Judicial Panel of Inquiry on
Restitution for Victims of SARS-related Abuses and Other Matters named only
nine deceased because of the evidence available before them.
According to the report submitted by the panel, no fewer
than nine #EndSARS protesters were killed at the Lekki tollgate on October 20,
2020, while four others were presumed dead.
The report listed 48 names as those who were casualties of
the Lekki incident of October 20, 2020.
Among the 48 casualties listed, 24 sustained gunshot
injuries, while 15 others were assaulted by soldiers and police.
The panel also noted that 96 other corpses were presented by
a Forensic Pathologist of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital,
Professor John Obafunwa, but were rejected over lack of concrete evidence
linking the cause of their deaths to the Lekki tollgate.
The lawyer lamented that many families and witnesses were
scared to testify publicly before the panel.
While commending the efforts of the panel, he noted that the
pieces of evidence supplied by the protesters and their legal teams overpowered
those of the Army, police, and Lekki Concession Company.
He said in a telephone interview that some of the
eyewitnesses thought they could be killed if they testified.
Ogunlana said, “It was a quality report not because it is
favourable to us but the meticulous that went into it. A report of over 300
pages is not a joke. That report was unanimous. The police representative was
there, government, respected lawyers and you have a sitting judge who did not
sell her integrity.
“The representation was rich and balanced. Our pieces of
evidence overpowered them. They were more credible than those of LCC, police,
army. The evidence brought by the petitioners was a quality one that sailed
through despite cross-examination.
“I give kudos to the teams defending the protesters. We had
galLant ladies that came up despite the intimidation. There was a fair
hearing.”
When asked if only nine protesters were killed, he replied,
“They are more than nine but the panel worked with those with concrete
evidence.
“Some of the eyewitnesses and relatives were scared to
speak. It was hectic to get people to testify. some thought they will be
killed.
“Assuming that there was no fear, more people would have
come out. Some people are regretting they didn’t come out to. About five people
withdrew when it was time to testify before the panel. They thought they will
be hurt later.”
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