The panel is probing the alleged killing of protesters by soldiers at the Lekki tollgate on October 20.

Ogunlana told the retired Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel that Fashola must be summoned to explain the circumstances in which he found a camera at the tollgate five days after the shooting incident.

According to Ogunlana, the visit to the tollgate on October 25 when Fashola found a camera “suggests an intrusion” into the evidence of the October 20 shootings.

Ogunlana said this on Saturday while cross-examining the Managing Director of the Lekki Concession Company, operator of the Lekki tollgate, Abayomi Omomuwa.

Ogunlana had asked Omomuwa if he was aware that “on October 25, the Governor of Lagos State brought some persons to visit the tollgate?” to which, Omomuwa said he only read it in the news.

Omomuwa further told Ogunlana that he was not present during the visit because he does not report to the Lagos State Government.

Then Ogunlana asked him, “Where is that camera that the minister, popularly known as Agent Fash, removed?” And in response, Omomuwa said, “I don’t know.”

However, counsel for LCC, Rotimi Seriki, objected to Ogunlana asking the MD that question.

Replying to Seriki, the #EndSARS protesters’ lawyer said the issue was crucial to his case and asked if the panel had issued a summon on Fashola.

But the panel chairman, Justice Okuwobi, told Ogunlana that he would have to follow the proper procedure if he wanted Fashola’s appearance before the panel.

Then, hitting that he would be requesting that Fashola be summoned, Ogunlana said, “I wouldn’t know if it is too early for me to apply for Minister Fashola to appear before the panel to assist investigation?”

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Protesters converged on the tollgate for 13 days before they were forcefully dispersed by soldiers.

There are reports that some of the protesters were killed by the soldiers who stormed the tollgate on October 20, 2020, but no clear evidence has been produced.

Those who sustained injuries have been treated while some of have been discharged from the hospital.

On Friday, Doris Okuwobi, chairperson of the panel, led her team to the scene of the shooting, which attracted global attention.

Yomi Omomuwansa, managing director, Lekki Concession Company (LCC), who took the panel on an inspection tour, said most of their equipment were damaged by suspected hoodlums after the shooting incident.

Earlier, Gbolahan Aboluwaje, head of the legal department of LCC, testified before the panel, saying the company is ready to show footage of the incident.

He said there are hours of recordings on the CCTV footage.

He said the LCC received a summons from the panel on Wednesday, to appear before it, present the October 20 footage, an investigation report and any other document.

He clarified that while the “LCC is prepared to air the footage before the panel” but no investigative report or document is available.

“We have the footage. We do not have an investigation report because we know that investigations are ongoing and we have not been able to provide any document. We had a very short notice and we brought what we were able to lay our hands on,” he had said.

The panel had its first sitting on Tuesday, exactly a week after the shooting at the tollgate.

The sitting commenced with the swearing-in of Rinu Odulala and Temitope Majekodunmi as representatives of youths on the panel.

Also, sworn-in as a member of the panel is Lucas Koyejo representing the Nigeria Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The only petitioner taken on Tuesday, Okoli Aguwu explained that he spent 47 days in SARS detention, accused of theft by his boss.

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The panel, chaired by Doris Okuwobi, retired justice of the state high court, was sworn in at the State House, Marina, on Monday.

On Thursday, the governor announced the establishment of the panel, saying the decision is based on agreements reached at the national economic council (NEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and attended by all the governors.

He said the objective is to bring erring officers to justice and get compensation for the victims.

The panel will hold its first sitting today at the head office of the Lagos State Waterways Authority at Falomo Roundabout, in Ikoyi.

Some members of the panel include Ebun Adegboruwa, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Taiwo Lakanu, a retired deputy inspector general of police; Patience Udoh, a representative of the civil society; Segun Awosanya, a human rights activist; and Olutoyin Odusanya, director of Lagos Citizens Mediation Center.

Hearing of the cases is scheduled between 10am and 4pm everyday.

Sanwo-Olu said members of the public can submit petitions against SARS to the panel by contacting the help desk on the numbers: 0901 051 3203, 0901 051 3204 and 0901 051 3205.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, the governor had detailed the duty of the panel, some of which include compensation of victims, prosecution of erring officers, and recommending better ways of avoiding cases of police brutality in the state.

There have been nationwide public demonstrations against police brutality under the #EndSARS campaign for more than one week now.

One of the five-point demand of the protest, which has entered day 12, is an investigation of cases of police brutality with the intention to prosecute erring officers.

The protests have also been held outside Nigeria, just as international figures have joined the calls for reform and an end to police brutality in Nigeria.

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The governor who made the announcement during a live address at the state house in Marina on Thursday, said he took action based on agreements reached at the national economic council (NEC) meeting presided over by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and attended by all the governors.

Sanwo-Olu said the development is in line with the five-point demands by youths demonstrating against police brutality, adding that the objective is to bring erring officers to justice and get compensation for the victims.

The governor said the panel is comprised of three individuals representing civil society, one security agency representative, government representative, human rights activist and a representative of the human rights commission.

“I attended a National Economic Council Sub-Committee Meeting in which the major focus was the ongoing EndSARS protests and the necessary steps to take to assuage the feelings of the protesters. In line with the five-point demands of the protesters, we unanimously decided to inaugurate a panel of investigation into human rights abuses,” he said.

“A seven-member Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for victims of SARS-related abuses in Lagos State is now being constituted. This panel will ensure that all those with verifiable cases of SARS brutality or fatality get justice and receive compensation. The panel will be chaired by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi.

“Other panel members are Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN (representing the civil society), Taiwo Lakanu (a retired deputy inspector general of police), Ms Patience Udoh (representing the Civil Society), Mr. Segun Awosanya (human rights activist), Mrs. Olutoyin Odusanya (director, Lagos Citizens Mediation Center), as well as a representative of the youth-led protest and a representative of the Human Rights Commission.”

The governor had earlier announced that a N200 million trust fund has been established for the compensation of victims and families of those who died in the course of SARS’ activities.

He said members of the public can petition the panel against SARS actions by contacting the help desk on the numbers: 0901 051 3203, 0901 051 3204 and 0901 051 3205.

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