BREAKING: Sanwo-Olu govt releases White Paper on Lekki panel report, rejects nine persons were killed

The Lagos State Government has released its White Paper on the report by the EndSARS panel that probed the Lekki toll gate incident of October 20, 2020.

The Babajide Sanwo-Olu government rejected the panel’s report that nine persons were killed at the toll gate when soldiers stormed the protest ground to disperse the young protesters.

In the White Paper obtained by Newsflash Nigeria on Tuesday night, the government described the claim of the panel that nine persons were shot dead as “assumptions and speculations”.

In the report, the state government says of the 32 recommendations by the panel, it has accepted 11, accepted 6 modifications, and rejects one.

The document also says 14 of the recommendations fall outside the powers of the state and will be forwarded to the Federal Government for consideration.

Details of what the recommendations are, are, however, yet to clear.

A leaked version of the report had indicted the Nigerian Army and the Lagos state government in the killing of unarmed protesters and a subsequent cover-up of the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

But after the panel submitted its findings to Governor Sanwo-Olu, set up a four-member committee led by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) to raise the White Paper on the reports submitted by the panel.

At a press briefing earlier today, the Governor said the leakage was “regrettable”.

“While I commend the panel for undertaking its task to the best of its abilities, it is however regrettable that the panel’s work and the leakage of an unauthorized version of the report have generated much tension. Sadly, a deep wound has been reopened,” he added.

The governor, however, assured Lagosians that his administration remains committed to justice and truth.

Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu in a speech on Tuesday on the Lekki shootings of October 20, 2020, said, “In December, I will be leading A WALK FOR PEACE to herald the healing of our land.

“Let me use this occasion to extend an open invitation to our youths, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society groups, students and the media as well as other stakeholders to join me.”

Specifically, the governor invited Falana, Adebayo, Dele Farotimi, Temitope Majekodunmi, Segun Awosanya (Segalink), Adedotun (Just Detoun), Seun Kuti; Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu; and Commander of Rapid Response Squad CSP Yinka Egbeyemi and others to join him in the “historic march for our dear Lagos.”

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