A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and member of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the activities of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, has accused the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, of tampering with exhibits during his visit to the Lekki Tollgate alongside Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-olu, Ministers and South-West governors to inspect the vandalised properties damaged during the violence in the previous week.
Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa explained that it is quite illegal to visit the said Lekki Toll Plaza without the authority and permission of the panel.
He then pleaded with the Lagos State Governor to grant the panel full autonomy and independence that was promised during the inauguration.
Read full statement below.
BRF TAMPERS WITH EVIDENCE AT LEKKI TOLL GATE, RETRIEVES HIDDEN CAMERA WITHOUT PANEL’S CONSENT
On Sunday, October 25, 2020, it was widely publicized that Ministers and Governors of the South-West visited the Governor of Lagos State on a sympathy tour of structures affected by the wanton looting and destruction that took place last week.
In the course of their visit, they were led to the Lekki Toll Plaza, to assess the situation thereat. It was at the same Lekki Toll Plaza that the incident of the alleged shooting of EndSARS protesters was said to have taken place.
And based on public outcry, the Governor of Lagos State added the Lekki Toll Plaza incident to the terms of reference of the Judicial Panel that was set up.
Since the Panel has been vested with jurisdiction over the Lekki Toll Plaza, I verily believe that it is illegal for anyone else to conduct any visit to the said Lekki Toll Plaza in the absence of and without the authority and consent of the Panel.
It was reported that in the course of the visit, the former governor of Lagos State and the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, discovered a hidden camera, which he took.
This is a clear case of illegally tampering with exhibits that may become useful to the Panel in the course of its assignment.
I appeal to the Governor of Lagos State to allow the Panel the full autonomy and independence that was promised at the time of inauguration.
It is contempt of the Panel for anyone to usurp the powers of the Panel in the way that has been reported. In this regard, the Panel will not shy away from summoning anyone who is alleged to be involved in any contemptuous act that may obstruct the course of justice.
I call on all Nigerians to come up with their complaints before the Panel for proper ventilation, as it begins its sitting today.