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Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers - Politics - Nairaland

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Senate Panel Summons CBN Governor Cardoso Over Naira Free Fall / Lekki Shootings: Army To Appear Before Lagos Panel On 7 November 2020 / Why Buhari Didn’t Speak On Lekki Shootings - Femi Adesina (2) (3) (4)

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Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by dre11(m): 11:38am On Nov 01, 2020
…says only state government, not panel, can invite us

• Summons duly signed by panel chair can’t be disregarded – Member

The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing the shooting of #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki tollgate on the night of October 20, 2020 has summoned the army to appear before it, Sunday PUNCH has learnt.

But the army has indicated not to honour any summons or invitation by the panel, except it is from the state government.

The seven-man panel, which began sitting on Monday, is also saddled with the task of probing allegations of brutality by men of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad.

A member of the retired Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel, set up by the Lagos State Government, confided in Sunday PUNCH that the panel had already dispatched an invitation letter to concerned authorities.

“We have summoned several authorities, including the military,” the panel member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

On whether the panel had fixed a date for the appearance of the army, the member said, “No date yet. But surely, we are summoning the military, police and everybody relevant to our probe. We have no limitation as to who we are going to summon. We want to get to the root of the case. The panel had agreed that a letter be dispatched to the military authorities.”

Lagos govt, not panel, has right to invite us – Army

But when Sunday PUNCH reached out to the Nigerian Army over the invitation sent to it by the panel on the need for it to state its story regarding the incident, the acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations and 81 Division’s spokesperson, Major Osoba Olaniyi, said it was not the duty of the judicial panel to invite the Army to answer questions regarding the reported shooting of unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll plaza.

Olaniyi stressed that the army intervened in the Lekki tollgate incident based on a request from the Lagos State Government and that it would only appear before the panel based on same directive from the state government.

He said, “If we receive a letter from the state, we will go. Are we not under civil authorities? Are we not part of Nigerians? Have you forgotten that we did not go there (Lekki tollgate) on our own?

“It is not the duty of the members of the panel to tell us that. If the state wants the (81) Division to come, they will write and we will oblige. See, if they have written to the division, it is our duty to go. It is not for them to go through the media as if we are scared of coming.

“It is the state government that constituted that panel of inquiry. So if anybody needs to get in touch with us to come, it is still the state and not members of the panel.”

Summons, duly signed by judge, can’t be disregarded — Panel member

But reacting to Olaniyi’s argument that the army would only honour an invitation by the state government, the panel member who spoke with Sunday PUNCH, on condition of anonymity said, “An invitation has been sent by the panel to 81 Battalion of the Nigerian Army at Bonny Camp and 82 Division on Kofo Abayomi.

“The laws guiding the panel give it power to summon anybody. Once a summons has been sent, it must be obeyed. If on the day the army is supposed to appear, they don’t come, then the panel will consider other alternatives.

“If the military is under civil authority, I don’t see how a judge will sign a summons and it will be willfully disregarded. May such day never come in Nigeria again.”

The army had come under heavy criticism over how its personnel, while enforcing the curfew imposed by the state government, shot peaceful protesters at the Lekki Tollgate on October 20, 2020, killing some and leaving others with varying degrees of injury.

The army authorities, in a tweet on October 21, initially denied that its personnel were at the scene of the shootings. The army, via its Twitter handle, described the report as ‘fake news.’

But, following evidence and pressure from different individuals and groups, the army later admitted that its personnel were at the scene but were invited by the state government. This constrasted the earlier submission of the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who in the morning of October 21 blamed the shootings on “forces beyond our direct control.”

The Army denied shooting the protesters while the governor also said no one was killed in the exercise, but available information showed that people were killed. Amnesty International also said it had evidence that no fewer than 12 protesters were killed at the Lekki tollgate and Alausa areas of the state.

The army deputy director had said, “From the onset of the #EndSARS protest, there was no time personnel of the 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Lagos was involved. However, the decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State Government after a 24-hour curfew was imposed. This was as a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, policemen killed, suspects in police custody released and weapons carted away.

“The situation was fast degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that the Lagos State Government requested the military to intervene, in order to restore normalcy. The intervention of the military followed all laid down procedures for internal security operations. And all the soldiers involved acted within the confines of the Rules of Engagement for internal security operations.”

An entertainer, Obianuju Ude otherwise called DJ Switch, who was at the scene, later released a video where she said no fewer than 15 persons were killed, adding that the soldiers took away the corpses in their vans. She pointed out that policemen were also involved in the shooting. The outcry made the governor to extend the terms of reference of the seven-member judicial panel to include investigating the Lekki shootings.

https://punchng.com/lekki-shootings-army-kicks-as-judicial-panel-summons-officers-soldiers/

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Nobody: 11:39am On Nov 01, 2020
Ok
Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by zickyclef: 11:43am On Nov 01, 2020
If I say zoo dem go say i b IPOB

224 Likes 11 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Stephenomozzy(m): 11:44am On Nov 01, 2020
They have the guts to say NO
because they know who's got their back.

Lagos govt, not panel, has right to invite us – Army

Rubbish, so none of them understand the meaning of delegated authority. The panel which was set up by the State government has the full powers to investigate the subject matter!

229 Likes 15 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by HenryThegreat1(m): 11:46am On Nov 01, 2020
Now they can talk about right.
But when dey were shooting innocent protesters nothing like right.
Nigeria government only obeys when law favor them. But disobey when it do not favor them.

117 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by mustmust(m): 11:49am On Nov 01, 2020
Very unprofessional on the Nigeria military. Just go there and clear your self.

58 Likes

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Nobody: 11:50am On Nov 01, 2020
Kicking hasn't even started. They will soon kick the bucket; all of them

112 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by MarveworldNG: 12:00pm On Nov 01, 2020
All of these will be over but the dead will definitely get justice

7 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by iamDrRhymes(m): 12:08pm On Nov 01, 2020
Emotion aside, the army is right on this one. It's a slap on the Nigerian army to appear before a civilian panel.

The other day, the army facility was invaded without a prior notice. Please let's respect the military.

44 Likes 14 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by BlueRayDick: 12:09pm On Nov 01, 2020
I don't blame the military, I blame the puppet Sanwoolu who foolishly gave the army the chance to unleash terror on his people.

Sanwoolu invited the army, they shot at armless protesters and now he expects the army to come and start telling tales in front of a panel he constituted......smh.

That guy Sanwoolu is not even fit to be a local government councillor

97 Likes 8 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Villagemeat: 12:14pm On Nov 01, 2020
The Army is bigger than a State Governor......but wait ohhh, Governor Sanwo Olu said he didn't know about the Army present in Lekki toll gate,Army said the State government requested thier present in Lekki. Who come dey lie now?

29 Likes 8 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by sapientia(m): 12:47pm On Nov 01, 2020
Let them not worry.

Their urchins in Nairaland will defend them

Nothing will happen.

iamDrRhymes:
Emotion aside, the army is right on this one. It's a slap on the Nigerian army to appear before a civilian panel.

The other day, the army facility was invaded without a prior notice. Please let's respect the military.

Something is fundamentally wrong with you.

But its not your fault though.

Its a result of many years of mental slavery.

You go dey alright las las

143 Likes 11 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by iamDrRhymes(m): 1:35pm On Nov 01, 2020
sapientia:
Let them not worry.

Their urchins in Nairaland will defend them

Nothing will happen.



Something is fundamentally wrong with you.

But its not your fault though.

Its a result of many years of mental slavery.

You go dey alright las las


Something is fundamentally wrong with you. It is not your fault though, your emotion got the best of you.

Have you ever seen a soldier charged to court before? Only a dismissed officer will appear before the law court.

It would have been a different ball game if the panel is a joint military/civilian panel.

18 Likes 8 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Jostoman: 1:36pm On Nov 01, 2020
Sanwo olu come and do the needful o because the army said you were the one that invited them to shoot peaceful protesters at lekki tollgate.

4 Likes

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by naptu2: 1:46pm On Nov 01, 2020
iamDrRhymes:
Emotion aside, the army is right on this one. It's a slap on the Nigerian army to appear before a civilian panel.

The other day, the army facility was invaded without a prior notice. Please let's respect the military.

1) Edo Youth, Police Clash: Army Commander And More Policemen Testify At Panel Hearing

https://secure.saharareporters.com/2018/02/20/edo-youth-police-clash-army-commander-and-more-policemen-testify-panel-hearing

40 Likes 5 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by slawormiir: 1:51pm On Nov 01, 2020
Damnnn niggarrrr
Isoright
I put on my intellectual cap while I read between line and perused through this article

And i must say the lagos state governor don't know what he has put his hand into

16 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Zico5(m): 1:51pm On Nov 01, 2020
Why will they not kick? They know the truth of the matter. Both the state government and Nigerian Army are culpable in this acts. That's why youths must not cow down on Endsars. It's the beginning to the new Nigeria. Buhari should bury his head in shame for allowing this to happen under his watch.

11 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by asobo: 1:51pm On Nov 01, 2020
V
Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Loveurneighbour: 1:51pm On Nov 01, 2020
We are following
Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Brendaniel: 1:51pm On Nov 01, 2020
The Nigerian army is now as unstable as water, soon they will tell us the Nigerian army never existed before the lekki shooting...

23 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Lamasta(m): 1:51pm On Nov 01, 2020
It is very clear now that this lots are frustrating the process of getting to the root of this matter but nemesis will catch up with all those guilty of what happened on Oct 20 at lekki toll gate

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Nobody: 1:52pm On Nov 01, 2020
Nigerian Army dey fear bandits & terrorists, na only unarmed civilians dem sabi intimidate & humiliate.

It's time to start #EndArmyBrutality protests...

12 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by BestMan001: 1:52pm On Nov 01, 2020
If the Army likes embarassed
Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by MattyB20: 1:52pm On Nov 01, 2020
Dogs don't eat dog. Nothing will come out of it
it

1 Like 2 Shares

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by superior1: 1:52pm On Nov 01, 2020
When the panel summons, it’s the Gov doing so

The Lagos Govt authority has been vested on the panel over this matter

Yeye army

12 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by NigerDeltaRepub: 1:52pm On Nov 01, 2020
The people's army kicking against the people...no wonder termite soldiers are blind..
#NigerDeltaRepublic

12 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by martin123: 1:52pm On Nov 01, 2020
Terrible. Do the military believe in democracy??

2 Likes

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by ILoveDemMANNA: 1:52pm On Nov 01, 2020
Here comes one of the few OBJECTIVE POST ON THIS THREAD

Even if it was just one (1) youth that was killed
It is a very BIG issue for some of us with brains and souls,
If it was 7 youths as it was reported by the genuine protesters at Lekki, it is still so sad,
and if it was 78 or 100 youths as it was circulated all over social media,
We deserve to know the whole truth as a nation.
So we can know how to table our matter to the international community.
We want to know what is true and what are lies.
We dont want to accept any lies from the Army and at the same time, We don't need some people (celebrities et al) fueling fake news on this heated country now.
We are not fighting against Nigeria,
We are fighting for Nigeria.
#IStandWithTheTruth
Some Nigerians are waiting for what is the truth.
#IStandWithAPeacefulProtest.
#AGoodCountryIsAllNigerianYouthsWant
Again,
We are not fighting against Nigeria,
We are fighting for Nigeria.


Conscience is an open wound. Only the truth can heal it.


The Good people of Nigeria deserve to know the WHOLE TRUTH of this Lekki issue now.
Heads must roll!

Up till now, many Good Nigerian citizens with an open mind don't know what to believe.........still!

Dchampion65:
God bless you really good
Amen.
Thank you so much.
God bless you real real good too!
You are a Champion indeed! wink

Eillyeillz:

You sir are wise. God bless you.
Amen.
God bless you too sir.

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by BestMan001: 1:52pm On Nov 01, 2020
mustmust:
Very unprofessional on the Nigeria military. Just go there and clear your self.

True shocked

2 Likes

Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by Onyeedum(m): 1:53pm On Nov 01, 2020
Dy must Answer o
Re: Lekki Shootings: Army Kicks As Judicial Panel Summons Officers, Soldiers by ILoveDemMANNA: 1:53pm On Nov 01, 2020
We deserve to know the true situation of things that have already set Nigeria 10 years backwards.

And every and any person found guilty of killings of innocent souls (that resulted in loss of lives and properties, especially private businesses)

OR,

Any body found guilty of spreading fake news
(that resulted in loss of lives and properties, especially private businesses)

Whichever way it is, they must be brought to book.
This can and will never be swept under the carpet.

The Good people of Nigeria deserve to know the WHOLE TRUTH of this Lekki issue now.
Heads must roll!

Up till now, many Good Nigerian citizens with an open mind don't know what to believe.........still!

whizzler:
The second part of Ur assertion is as important as the first part because everyone must be held responsible for their actions
Exactly my objective points.

diaspoAFRICANS:

10 years or you meant 100 Yrs backwards?
More like that....
It's a sorry case.

Eillyeillz:

You sir are wise. God bless you.
Amen.
God bless you too sir.

1 Like

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