When former President Olusegun Obasanjo empaneled the Late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Panel, the expectation was very high that it will achieve what truth and reconciliation committee of South Africa achieved, but the peculiarities of Nigeria rendered the panel prostate. Though, Obasanjo in other to show how serious he was came to the panel when he was summoned. But that was the end, both former heads of state Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Muhammadu Buhari refused bluntly to appear before the panel when they were summoned. From then, the panel continued to flounder until it eventually winded up. So when Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu set up a Panel after the EndSARS Protest to unravel what happened on the night of October 20,2020, and police brutality,some cynics faulted the terms of reference of the panel and issue surrounding the composition. They argue that Sanwo-Olu being part of what transpired at Lekki Toll Gate may not be interested in getting to the root of the problem.
And unfortunately, Justice Doris Okuwobi’s controversial ruling that LCC should go and repossess the Toll Gate has ignited another round of protest.
Speaking on a public affairs program monitored on Arise TV on Sunday, Former Vice Chairman of the NBA, Mr. Monday Ubani said the panel was hasty in granting the request of the LCC to repossess the Lekki Toll Gate. Again, Ubani said the panel over stepped its bound because the term of reference states that the panel will recommend what needs to be done to Sanwo-Olu and not granting any reliefs when it’s yet to conclude its sitting.
To Wale Gomez, the Panel is a charade. “It won’t achieve anything. The question of who owns the toll plaza has been on without any answer.”
Prof Bola Akinterinwa, Former Director General of the Institute of International Affairs said Adegboruwa was right to say he would want to withdraw from the panel because of the turn of events.
Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director of Enough is Enough was emphatic that the Toll Gate is owned by lagos state. ‘The LCC is collecting tolls on behalf of the Lagos state government ‘. And also Adamolekun said Governor Sanwo-Olu studied silence since Saturday after the protest is not golden at all.. She also accused the Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu of complicit.
But reacting to how the protesters were dehumanized and clamp into a small vehicle despite Lagos state been the epicenter of COVID-19, Lagos state Attorney General and commissioner of Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo said the state will not be liable and that the Commissioner of Police despite the joint briefing with the state before the protest owed the state an explanation why his men treated the protesters the way they did going by the videos that went viral. He’s also of the opinion that the protesters can approach the court to sue for damages.
Onigbanjo maintained that the state was conscious of the rights of the people and ensure that they were arraigned and given bail in liberal conditions that and day.
With the withdrawal of one of the youth Representatives , Rinu Oduala and the threat by the representative of civil society, Ebun Olu Adegboruwa to withdraw may render the Okuwobi’s Panel prostate. Before the controversial decision, Okuwobi has been accused of working to push the panel towards a predetermined position by the Lagos state government. Those who have dismissed the panel as a distraction may be right after all. Now, the onus is on Justice Okuwobi to extricate herself of working towards a predetermined recommendations. The hopes the Lagos panel offers initially is fast evaporating. And with the signal coming from other judicial panels across the country, Lagos Panel May end in disarray. On Saturday, the Anambra Panel all withdrew enmass.
Will Okuwobi bungle the Lagos judicial panel? The days ahead will tell as event unfolds.
