EndSARS: Lagos judicial panel will be made public – Sanwo-Olu

…‘I’ve directed release of those detained in Wednesday memorial protest’

Etim Ekpimah

As the final report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution is being awaited, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has assured that government would make full disclosure of the report to the public soon.

According to the governor, the state government would not cover up the recommendations of the panel, whether it is in its favour or not. He added the panel report would be helpful in strengthening true reconciliation and preventing the re-occurrence of violence in the state.

Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, spoke on the arduous task of rebuilding the state, one year after Lagos was hit by a wave of arsonist attacks resulting from EndSARS protests.

Lagos recorded a huge loss in assets and resources, following the violence that trailed the protest, as public transportation infrastructure, court buildings, police stations, private properties and iconic assets were razed by arsonists on October 21, 2020.

The governor said the panel was set up to investigate allegations of human rights abuses against the police and determine the cause of coordinated attacks on Lagos, noting that the panel’s final report would be fully implemented.

The panel concluded its sittings last Monday, after 12 months it was constituted.

“The panel concluded its sittings about three days ago and has asked for time to put the reports together behind closed doors. We do not know the content of the report, but we want to say publicly that, upon the handover of the report, we will be making it public.

“We will not cover up anything. This is not who we are and that is not what our government stands for. We will make full disclosure of whatever recommendations that the panel will come up with. I assure citizens of Lagos that we will not leave anything to chance,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The governor also spoke on the arrest of some youths that participated in a drive-through EndSARS memorial protest at the Lekki Tollgate on Wednesday, stating that he had ordered an unconditional release of those detained by the police, except one person who was caught with dangerous weapons at the scene.

He said: “Yesterday (Wednesday, October 20, 2021), we saw a protest in Lagos and everybody that was arrested in connection with the protest has all been released, except an individual that was caught with dangerous weapons and who confessed to the police that he joined the protest to cause mayhem,” the governor said.

He commended the police for being alive with its responsibility to identify and isolate troublemakers from law-abiding people who conduct themselves in line with the laws.

Sanwo-Olu, again, extended a hand of fellowship to the youth to be stakeholders in the development of the State, while reiterating his commitment to reconciliation. He urged them to join the rebuilding effort to restore the operating capacity of institutions affected by the violence.

Speaking on the rebuilding effort, the governor said the destruction had slowed down operational activities of the affected public institutions but stressed that the state government would not shy away from its responsibility to rebuild the facilities and restore their operating capacity.

He said: “It is exactly a year ago today when Lagos was hit by violence in the aftermath of the EndSARS protests. Lagos witnessed massive destruction of infrastructure, iconic buildings, transport infrastructure, police station and others.

“Today is a year after the event, there is no better time to say how difficult it has been for us as a State and how committed it has been for us. As tough as it is, the Government will certainly not shy away from its responsibility. We see the incident as a challenge, and we will fix it with everything that we have.”