Brig. General Ahmed I. Taiwo, a top military officer on Saturday appeared before Lagos State Panel of Judicial Inquiry to give the Nigerian Army’s testimony on the alleged shooting of EndSARS protesters on October 20, 2020 at the Lekki toll gate in Lagos.
The Nigerian Army had earlier on Friday filed some papers at the registry of the panel and submitted flash drives containing the recorded videos, expended and unexpended blank ammunition, which was used to disperse the crowd during the incident, according to PR Nigeria.
Some of the documents filed by the military included the witness statements of the Commander of 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Taiwo; the Chief of Staff, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Nsikak Edet; Commander, 81 Division Garrison, Brig. Gen. Francis Omata; Commander, 9 Brigade, Brig. Gen. Musa Etsu-Ndagi; and Commanding Officer, 65 Battalion, Lt. Col. Salisu Bello.
Meanwhile, the absence of the two youth representatives serving in the Panel on Saturday stalled proceedings as the panel could not form a quorum.
The two youth representatives – Mr Temitope Majekodunmi and Ms Olorunrinu Oduala – did not make an appearance at the panel in protest against the freezing of Oduala’s Bank account by Central Bank of Nigeria. Oduala’s bank account was allegedly frozen over alleged sponsorship of the #EndSARS protests.
Justice Doris Okuwobi (retired), Chairperson of nine-member panel, said that due to the absence of Oduala and Majekodunmi, proceedings will not hold because the panel could form a quorum.
She said: “We are confronted with a situation which prevented her from coming. We do not know if the two youth representatives will eventually pull out.
“We do not want a situation where proceedings will go on and it is impugned that with controversy due to a lack of quorum”.
Justice Okuwobi stressed the importance of all the panel’s sitting being in accordance with the law.
“In all matters, we have to wait for them to join us, without them we are handicapped,” the retired judge said.
Reacting, Mr Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), counsel the Nigerian Army, noted that the military were at the panel in response to a summons dated Oct. 28 and asked the panel when the military should return to give evidence. Mr Kayode Enitan (SAN), counsel for the Lagos State Government, aligned with the submission of the counsel for the Nigerian military. He, however, noted the importance of a quorum.
“The issue of a quorum is of utmost importance as to the competence of the panel to proceed and as to the integrity of recommendations to be made at the end of proceedings.
“Therefore, the directive that the panel should adjourn is quite appropriate,” the LASG counsel said.
