#EndSARS: Lagos implemented Lekki judicial panel report, says Hamzat

Lagos State Deputy Governor and governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Obafemi Hamzat, has said the state government implemented several recommendations of the judicial panel set up to investigate the October 20, 2020 Lekki tollgate incident.

Hamzat described the incident as a sad moment in the state’s history, acknowledging the loss of public trust and the pain suffered by affected residents and families.

He spoke on Sunday during the Lagos Governorship Debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium, a coalition of five media organisations: The PUNCH, Channels Television, TVC News, TheCable and Vanguard Newspaper.

Responding to a question on what he personally knew about the security decisions taken on October 20, 2020, when he was deputy governor, Hamzat acknowledged his position in the administration at the time.

“October 20, 2020, is a very sad day in Lagos. Very sad. I will not stand here to say I’m not the deputy governor. I was in the room,” he said.

Hamzat said the Lagos State Government subsequently established an independent judicial commission, which investigated the incident and submitted its findings.

“Remember, Lagos set up a judicial commission, funded and independent, to find the truth. They did their report. Lagos also did a white paper, implementing a lot of those decisions,” he added.

He also reaffirmed the government’s position on the right to protest, saying, “We believe people have the right to protest.”

The #EndSARS protests began in October 2020 following widespread complaints of police brutality, harassment, extortion and extrajudicial killings, particularly involving operatives of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

The demonstrations spread across several states, with the Lekki tollgate in Lagos emerging as one of the major protest grounds.

On October 20, 2020, soldiers were deployed to the tollgate, where protesters had gathered. The incident, involving the shooting of protesters, generated widespread outrage and renewed calls for accountability and police reforms.

Following the incident, the Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, inaugurated a nine-member Judicial Panel of Inquiry on October 19, 2020, chaired by retired Justice Doris Okuwobi.

The panel was mandated to investigate allegations of police brutality and human rights violations by SARS operatives and other police units, as well as the shooting of protesters at the Lekki tollgate.

After 131 proceedings, the panel concluded its sittings in October 2021. It awarded a total of N410m in compensation to 70 victims of police brutality and other human rights abuses.

The panel submitted its reports to the state government on November 15, 2021.

In its report on the Lekki incident, the panel found that soldiers shot at unarmed protesters, resulting in deaths and injuries. It described the incident as a massacre in the context of its findings and raised concerns about the handling of the scene afterwards.

The panel made 32 recommendations, including compensation for victims, prosecution of security personnel implicated in the incident, improved police accountability, public apology and the establishment of a memorial at the tollgate.

However, the Lagos State Government, in its White Paper released on November 30, 2021, accepted 11 recommendations, accepted six with modifications, rejected one and referred 14 to the Federal Government, saying they fell outside its jurisdiction.

The state government also rejected the panel’s finding that nine people were killed by gunfire at the tollgate, arguing that the conclusion was not supported by sufficient evidence and contained inconsistencies.

It said it would forward recommendations concerning the Federal Government and security agencies for consideration.

The aftermath of the incident continued to generate controversy, particularly over demands for justice, compensation and the prosecution of security personnel involved.

On October 20, 2022, police fired tear gas to disperse protesters who gathered at the Lekki tollgate to commemorate the second anniversary of the #EndSARS demonstrations.

The procession, attended by entertainer Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, and comedian Adebowale Adedayo, also known as Mr Macaroni, featured participants carrying placards and coffins in remembrance of those who died during the protests.

Explaining the police action, the former Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, had said officers fired tear gas after some protesters stopped at the tollgate, causing traffic congestion.

He said the procession was expected to keep moving and that those arrested during the exercise had been released after the crowd was dispersed.

The 2022 anniversary protest further renewed demands by activists and affected families for the full implementation of the judicial panel’s recommendations and accountability for the October 2020 incident.