* Assured of video evidence
The Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses & Lekki Toll Gate Incident, on Friday, toured the scene of the October 20 shootings.
The chair of the panel, Doris Okuwobi, led the team and observers to the scene to examine the level of damages done.
This is the second sitting of the panel which began on Tuesday.
On October 20, nearly two weeks into the EndSARS protests, soldiers reportedly opened fire on demonstrators gathered at a toll gate in Lekki.
The Managing Director of Lekki Concession Company (LCC), operators of Lekki Toll Gate, Mr. Abayomi Omomuwa, told the panelists that five bullet shells were recovered at the vicinity of the toll gate after the shooting incident
Omomuwa said that a camera installed on the mast worked until the carnage at the Toll Gate on Wednesday, October 21.
Lekki toll gate camera image
He said the camera stopped working after the carnage.
However, during the hearing, who was invited to testify on the event of October 20, could not give his testimony due to absence of a legal representation.
The head of the Legal Department of LCC, Gbolahan Agboluwaje told the panel that they had no legal representation as they got the letter of invitation from the panel late on Wednesday.
He said: “When we received the letter on Wednesday we discovered that three things were required, which are the footage, the investigation report and any other document. We have the footage, we have not done the investigation report and we don’t have other documents”.
Agboluwaje then asked for an adjournment to enable them get a legal representation.
“We would be happy if we are given time to get a legal representation, we got a very short notice,” he said.
He said that due to power outage, the recordings of the footage at the Lekki toll gate started late.
Asked by the Chairman of the panel Justice Doris Okuwobi if they had the footage, Agboluwaje said they have it, adding that they are prepared to show the footage.
Justice Okuwobi said: “Until he is represented by a counsel, we would not take his testimony. No person would be denied having any legal representation of his choice, but they should bear in mind the terms of reference of this panel.”
Also Friday, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), announced his appearance at the proceedings for Lagos State government.
Owonikoko said he has instructions to represent the Lagos State government in proceedings at the sitting of the panel.