- Demand Prosecution Of Indicted Security Operatives
Members of a coalition under the aegis of the Civil Society Voices have condemned the physical and verbal attacks directed at some witnesses and lawyers involved in the recently submitted report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and other matters.
The groups described the threats and attacks as a cowardly act.
Recall that some persons involved in the recently submitted report have alleged that they have been receiving death threats from some unknown persons.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, had also raised alarm over an alleged attempt by some forces to take his life. Adegboruwa was a member of the panel, who represented the Nigerian Bar Association and Civil Society.
Similarly, Miss Kamsiyochukwu Ibe, who testified during the sitting of the panel was macheted by some unknown persons last Sunday, while another testifier, Dabira has come out to allege threat to his life.
Reacting, the coalition accused some persons in the relms of power of being responsible for the recently reported attacks on the persons of interest.
The coalition also knocked Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed for dismissing the report of the panel.
Mohammed, who addressed a press conference on Tuesday rejected the report of the lagos panel, describing it as “fake and tales by moonlight”. The Minister had said the report was filled with errors, assumptions and allegations.
Meanwhile, the coalition commended the panel, describing its efforts as bold and objective reflection of the malfeasance that has characterized the behavior of our security forces over the years.
This was contained in a report titled #EndSARS Report: PROTECT VICTIMS FROM HARRASSMENT and jointly signed by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA); Joint Action Front; Justice Development and Peace Commission; Genesis Organisation for Protection of Rights; Spaces4Change; Great Nigeria Movement; Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and made available to The New Diplomat.
In the report, the coalition also demanded a thorough investigation of the reported attacks on victims, activist and lawyers involved in the #EndSARS reports.
Also, the coalition called on the Federal Government to prosecute individuals indicted for human rights abuses and murder pre-October 20th 2020.
The report partly reads, “Thorough investigation into the attack on Kamson Ibeh as well as the threats on Dabiri Oluwa and others. We expect expedited prosecution of the perpetrators once they are unmasked.
“Immediate prosecution of individuals indicted for human rights abuses and murder pre-October 20th 2020. That all those involved in the sordid and criminal events of the 20th October 2021 should be punished in accordance with the provisions of the law. This would include army, police, government personnel as well as personnel of the Lekki Concession Company. Corporate sanctions, if possible, should also be considered. This should hopefully serve as a statement against impunity in our country.
“That there should be adequate compensation for all victims of #endsars protests at the hands of state security operatives. That the Lekki Toll Gate be designated a national monument in celebration of the heroism of the Nigerian youths who, in an unprecedented and patriotic manner stood up to be counted on behalf of their country.
“That the commercialization of the Lekki Toll Gate which was the motivation for the mayhem by the army and police be stopped permanently forthwith as a testimony to the fact that profit must never attract a higher premium than human life.”
