Lekki Toll Gate report: SERAP, 116 Nigerians sue Buhari to court

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 116 Nigerians have dragged Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari to court over the #EndSARS panel report for the alleged shooting of peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll-gate and police brutality cases.

Newsflash Nigeria had earlier reported that the Lagos State Judicial Panel on #EndSARS had revealed the names of nine peaceful protesters who were shot dead by the Nigerian Army at the Lekki Tollgate last year.

The panel was inaugurated on October 29, 2020, to look into complaints of citizens against human rights abuses by the police.

Following the incident at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, the Terms of Reference of the panel were expanded to cover that incident.

The report was submitted on Monday, November 15, 2021, to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state.

In its report obtained by Newsflash Nigeria, the panel listed names of nine people (all male) who were shot dead at the scene of the protest last year.

Their names are; Victor Sunday Ibanga; Abuta Solomon; Jide; Olalekan Abideen Ashafa; Olamilekan Ajasa; Kolade Salami; Folorunsho Olabisi; Kenechukwu Ugoh and Nathaniel Solomon.

Four others: Abiodun Adesanya; Ifeanyi Nicholas Eji; Tola and Wisdom were missing and presumed dead.

The report noted that 39 other persons either sustained gunshot injuries, were assaulted, or were victims of the stampede that occurred following the military invasion.

Newsflash Nigeria reports that the Presidency revealed that states’ judicial panels on police brutality and extrajudicial killings won’t submit their reports to the Federal Government.

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, made this known on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme.

Meanwhile, The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and 116 Nigerians filed a lawsuit against  Buhari over the #EndSARS panel report.

SERAP wants the Federal High Court, Abuja, to “direct and compel” President Buhari to take prompt steps by ensuring the arrest of policemen and soldiers indicted by the Lagos #EndSARS panel report.

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This was contained in a statement by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, on Sunday.

In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1482/2021 filed on Friday, SERAP is also asking the court to direct President Buhari to ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims, including suitable compensation.

In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: “It’s in the interest of justice to grant this application, as it would improve respect for Nigerians’ rights, the rule of law, and public confidence in government institutions, as well as reduce the growing culture of impunity of perpetrators.

“The safety of protesters in Nigeria remains as precarious as ever, and impunity for crimes against them is growing. Impunity emboldens perpetrators. A failure to bring to justice those indicted for the shooting of peaceful protesters is, in itself, a violation of the rights to life and human dignity.”

SERAP also said, “the failure to promptly arrest, and bring to justice those suspected to be responsible for the shooting of peaceful protesters, and to ensure access to justice and effective remedies for victims and their families amounts to a travesty of justice, as justice delayed is justice denied.”

Joined in SERAP’s suit as Respondent is Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.

Meanwhile, the date for the hearing of the suit is yet to be fixed.

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