Human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has threatened to withdraw from the Lagos judicial panel investigating the shooting of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers last October following the clampdown on protesters by security forces on Saturday at Lekki toll gate.
The protesters took to the streets again over the decision of the panel to hand over control of the toll gate to Lekki Concession Company before victims of the shooting got justice.
Mr Adegboruwa, who is also a member of the panel, said he was “saddened and devastated” by the dehumanisation of the protesters by security operatives.
The lawyer said he could not continue to sit at the panel when fresh assaults were being perpetrated with impunity. He added that he was still consulting with civil societies to take a decision.
“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,” he said in a statement.
“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.”
He also appealed for calm on all sides in order not to escalate the worsening security situation across the country.
