Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), a member of the Lagos State Panel on Restitution for Victims of SARS-Related Abuses and Other Matters, has advised the Lagos State Government of Babajide Sanwo-Olu to focus on recommendations contained in the report submitted by the panel rather than “seek to demonize EndSARS Panel members and their report or to evade responsibility”.

The EndSARS panel inaugurated in October 2020 submitted a 309-page report in which it revealed that soldiers shot live ammunition at armless protesters with the intention to kill and maim them.

Reacting to criticism of panel members ever since, Adegboruwa, writing on his official Facebook profile on Friday, accused the government of subjecting the report of the panel to media trials and attacks.

He described it as an improper and uncharitable attempt by the government to frustrate the good work of the panel.

“I have listened to the narratives of the Lagos State Government through one of its Learned Senior Counsel at the #EndSARS Panel, to the effect that Nigerians should reject the report of the Panel because I signed it, since I was not present at some of the sittings of the Panel,” he said.

“I served on the Panel on the mandate of the Governor of Lagos State, who told me on telephone that I was chosen to represent CIVIL SOCIETY. I requested for and approval was granted in writing, that my appointment was on a part-time basis.

“Furthermore, the Governor told me that two members were chosen to represent civil society on the Panel so that one of us would always be present at the Panel to excuse the absence of the other. I accepted the appointment in good faith, to serve the people, to calm frayed nerves at the time and also to restore normalcy to Lagos State. So, at all times, I functioned in partnership with my colleague from civil society, and there was no major sitting of the Panel in which both of us were absent.”

Recalling that he served on the panel free of charge, from October 19, 2020 when it was inaugurated till November 15, 2021, when it submitted its report, Adegboruwa said the government was well aware of his identity, perspectives, philosophies and general convictions, at least since his university days, before it nominated him into the Panel, that he would always say things the way they are.

“All Panel members acted in good faith, independently and in the fear of God Almighty,” he insisted.

“My principled struggles in respect of toll fee collection started way back from 2011, almost nine years before the Panel was inaugurated. Indeed, the Governor said that these were the factors that favoured my selection as a member of the Panel. Will I then deny myself, forfeit my reputation and discredit my constituency, my colleagues in the Nigerian Bar Association and comrades in civil society, in order to please anybody or cover up the truth? NEVER!

“It is therefore improper for Lagos State Government, through its lawyer that appeared before the Panel and other sponsored agents, to subject the report of the Panel and indeed the integrity of Panel members to media trials and attacks, all in the bid to build up the contents of its White Paper, which we can now reasonably foretell, from these sponsored media attacks.

“It is indeed uncharitable for the same government that urged the Panel not to be held down by strict rules of technicalities of law in order to unravel the real truth about the Lekki Toll Gate Incident, to now through its counsel, talk about alleged legal discrepancies, to frustrate the good work of the Panel that it set up.

“There are documents to back up and defend the report submitted to the Governor by the Panel but I have chosen to defer to His Excellency and to await the White Paper as promised, because I believe that the Governor meant well in setting up the Panel and giving us free hand to operate. I appeal to His Excellency to continue in that note of sincerity.”

Adegboruwa said there was no minority report from the panel, as the report submitted to the governor on November 15, 2021 was unanimously endorsed by all members of the panel, who worked tirelessly, day and night, to serve the government and the people, even at great risks to their health, personal safety, career and family obligations and their general well-being.

“I’m very sure that Panel members would have been lionized to the highest heavens if we had bought into the narrative of the government before the Panel that it was criminals, cultists, hoodlums and unknown gunmen that operated at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020,” he continued.

“I urge the government to focus on the findings and far-reaching recommendations contained in the report, in order to pursue the laudable objectives of setting up the Panel to achieve true healing and reconciliation, instead of seeking to demonize Panel members and their report or to evade responsibility.

“God bless Nigeria.”

IgweBUIKE1:
Because he no favour them. ..if it's the other way round....the mumu helinues and vulture grill go don de mazturbate all the place

It is indeed uncharitable for the same government that urged the Panel not to be held down by strict rules of technicalities of law in order to unravel the real truth about the Lekki Toll Gate Incident, to now through its counsel, talk about alleged legal discrepancies, to frustrate the good work of the Panel that it set up

assent:
Madridguy, sirjamo, seunmsg thatfairguy1, simplyleo, mannabbgrills, vedaxcool, NGpatriot, looks like you guys are too ashamed to say anything about the endears reports.

This gives us opportunity to know where you people really stand between the side of truth and side of lies, shame, error and deception.

It helps us to know if you are children of honour or children of dishonour.

It helps to know if you are patriots or bunch of Shameless people.

It helps to know if you are children of uprightness or children of hate.

Your true identity has just been exposed. No more hiding place.

Every enemy of democracy in Nigeria, may curse and destruction never depart from their homes.

Everyone who concocted and defended lies about the #Endsars protest, may they suffer what the victims suffered. Amen.