Buhari: We Won’t Preempt States on #EndSARS Decisions

Emmanuel Addeh, Kingsley Nwezeh, Nume Ekeghe, and Wale Igbintade in Abuja, Nume Ekeghe, and Wale Igbintade in Lagos

President Muhammadu Buhari stated Wednesday that the federal government would not interfere with or predict the findings of the different panels established by state governments to probe the #EndSARS protests last year.

Rather, Buhari stated that his government would wait to see what actions the governors would take before acting on the findings of the investigations.

Last October’s statewide protests culminated in the deaths of several people and the indiscriminate destruction of property.

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Buhari stated during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Abuja that his administration was inclined to let the system run, but that state governments would have to solve the issues mentioned in the panels’ recommendations before the federal government would intervene.

However, the US government, which has expressed interest in the #EndSARS case, has stated that it would like to see both the federal and state governments ensure that the panel’s findings is given proper accountability and attention.

Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), counsel to the Lagos State government on the #EndSARS panel, has rejected the panel’s findings, which were leaked on Monday. Owonikoko also cast doubt on the panel’s casualty figures.

He stated that the leaked paper was riddled with inconsistencies and that it should not be made public or considered as factual, especially since one of the document’s signatories, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), was absent for the majority of the hearing.

Meanwhile, sources close to Alausa, the Lagos State government’s seat, said the government spent N800 million on the 13-month-long #EndSARS investigation.

“So many state governments are participating, and have given varied terms of reference to the investigative committees,” Buhari’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, said in a statement.

“We at the federal level must wait for the states to take action and allow the system to function.” We can’t force our beliefs on them. The federal government must wait for the states’ response.”

“No one is discriminated against because of his or her beliefs,” the president told US Secretary of State John Kerry.

He thanked the United States for selling arms to Nigeria to combat insecurity.

“It is assisting us in stabilizing the situation in the North-east, and we have achieved significant progress since 2015,” Buhari stated.

However, Blinken, speaking at a joint press conference with Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama at the State House in Abuja, urged countries to address the issues of victims of security forces’ abuse.

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Blinken, who held separate talks with Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), and Onyeama during which certain agreements were inked, also stated that his country was collaborating with Nigeria to address the country’s security concerns.

“We’re collaborating with Nigeria to handle security threats such as Boko Haram, ISIS West Africa, and other terrorist and extremist organizations.” We highlighted the significance of a holistic approach that creates efficient security forces, addresses the underlying drivers of extremism, and protects Nigerians’ basic human rights in discussions with the President, Vice President, and Foreign Minister.

“The United States is committed to assisting Nigeria in this endeavor by continuing to invest in our security partnership as well as institutions that strengthen the rule of law and hold those responsible for human rights violations, corruption, and other acts that harm the Nigerian people accountable.” We can help to alleviate some of the difficulties that have been primary drivers of insecurity by addressing these challenges.

“To that end, let me state that we applaud the conclusion of the investigation by the independent inquiry established by the Lagos State government to look into the events that occurred at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos in October of 2020, which, of course, occurred during the #EndSARS protest, including the killings and other alleged security abuses by the security forces.”

“We anticipate and await the state and federal governments’ responses to the conclusions, which we expect to include measures to ensure accountability and address the victims’ and their families’ grievances.”

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“We’re also working closely with Nigeria to assist the people most affected by the country’s turmoil and violence, particularly in the northeast, where the US is providing critical humanitarian aid to over 2.2 million Nigerians who have been internally displaced.” The United States continues to strengthen Nigeria’s military capabilities, particularly through the recent delivery of 12 A29 Super Tucano aircraft, but capacity building extends much beyond delivering military hardware, which we also discussed.

“We’re also increasing training in human rights and the rule of law, because military and civilian security services are more effective when they act in accordance with these ideals.” And because it’s critical that Nigeria holds members of the military accountable for human rights violations,” he continued.

He went on to demand that the government safeguard the safety and well-being of human rights activists such as journalists, crusaders, and others.

“Journalists, human rights defenders, and others in Nigeria’s thriving civil society are crucial in bringing these and other issues to light.” As we’ve seen in the successful efforts to promote electoral reform and lower the age at which Nigerians can run for office, their ability to exercise freedom of expression and other basic human rights is critical to advocating for individuals and communities and strengthening this country’s vibrant democracy.

“I’m looking forward to meeting a number of these leaders tomorrow (today), especially church leaders who are working to reduce communal tensions and promote peace.” We also anticipate Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, participating in the Democracy Summit next month. All delegates from government and civil society will pledge to develop and strengthen democracy in their own countries, as well as the democratic partnership.

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“We’re working on a wide range of topics together, but given our shared interests and difficulties, delivering for our people necessitates finding ways to strengthen our existing links and alliances even more.” That is ultimately what this visit and the work that we do every day, between our governments and between our people, is all about,” he remarked.

He noted that, in addition to the 7.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccinations that were recently provided to Nigeria at free cost, more would be delivered before the end of the year, highlighting other areas of partnership between the two countries.

“First and foremost, cooperating to defeat COVID-19 and rebuild better as we confront the destructive impact it has had on all of us, our communities, and our businesses.” The United States has given 7.6 million doses of safe, effective vaccines to Nigeria, with another large shipment expected before the end of the year.

“It was a no-strings-attached donation. And we’re currently assisting in the rescue of life. From the more than 150 testing laboratories we need to set up around the country to assisting with the food security situation exacerbated by the outbreak. For a long time, we’ve worked together to combat diseases and enhance public health. This isn’t new in that sense.

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“The United States and others collaborate with Nigeria to eradicate the wild polio virus by supporting vaccination efforts and assisting in case detection and isolation. In August of 2020, the country was declared virus-free thanks to this effort. That’s a tremendous accomplishment. Reckon assistance is assisting in the treatment of more nearly 1.5 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS, and the pandemic is expected to be under control by 2023.

“By supporting primary health care, we are able to provide essential services to over 60 million Nigerians.” These and other activities have contributed to the development of a solid infrastructure for Nigeria’s COVID-19 response and larger efforts to increase public health security, both of which are critical for detecting and preventing the next pandemic.

“Second, we’re collaborating with Nigeria to help the country recover from the pandemic by promoting inclusive, long-term economic growth.” That is the goal of the $2 billion development agreement that Jeffrey and I recently signed, which will, in my opinion, make significant investments in improving access to quality education, public health, and other services and tools that Nigeria’s rising generations seek and require to thrive at home and in the global economy. We’re also committed to collaborating with the administration on economic changes, such as creating a more stable regulatory environment to attract more foreign investment.

“Third, addressing the global climate crisis as a team.” Both the Foreign Minister and I recently attended COP 26, where President Buhari made substantial new commitments to join the global methane pledge and improve on Nigeria’s solar energy development.

“This is critical as more Germans feel the effects of the crisis, which the President, I must say, spoke about very eloquently when we were together not long ago, and displaced people, who have lost connections to their livelihoods as a result of climate change and other disturbances.”

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“Our collaboration also highlights how confronting this catastrophe is a once-in-a-generation chance to create good-paying jobs and extend renewable energy availability.” The Nigeria power sector programme, a five-year $110 million project funded by USAID, is supporting significant projects such as the solar power plan, which will bring solar energy to 25 million Nigerians who are off the grid and without power.

“As a result, up to 250,000 new jobs in the energy sector are predicted to be created, boosting local industry and generating $18.5 million in annual tax income.” As a result, it will have real-world implications,” he explained.

“Let me just say one brief word about yesterday’s events in Sudan,” he said, expressing the United States’ displeasure with the turn of events in Sudan. The United States is gravely concerned by the Sudanese military’s use of violence against peaceful protestors, which has reportedly killed over a dozen civilians and injured dozens more.

“The military must respect civilians’ rights to peacefully assemble and voice their opinions.” And we continue to support the Sudanese people’s demand for the civilian-led transition to be restored, including Prime Minister Abdala Hamdok’s return to office and the quick release of all those jailed since October 25,” he said.

However, Owonikoko, who talked on the ARISE News Morning Show, a breakfast show, yesterday, maintained that there was no record of a single death based on the evidence gathered.

“What I read in the study astounds me, particularly the facts with regard to 48 victims, some of whom are labeled as deceased and missing,” he said.

He emphasized that a member of the panel could not publicly reveal the contents of the panel’s report, despite the fact that the panelists had taken an oath of commitment to impartiality and confidentiality.

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“If someone who was a panel member went out today to speak about what transpired, that person has breached not only the oath he swore to be a member, but he has also breached the responsibility imposed on him not to disclose or divulge the contents to anyone,” Owonikoko says. What we should be talking about, and this is critical, is the government’s own outcome. That result can be questioned.”

He went on to say that the panel was primarily made up of persons with no legal background, which accounted for the majority of the alleged legal violations.

Owonikoko claimed that the panel’s report contained at least 40 inconsistencies, implying that the members did not conduct a thorough job.

“A number of them were not lawyers,” he said. And that, in my opinion, is the essence of the problem with this report. We were unable to establish a single death based on the evidence we were able to acquire at the hearing.

“The problem I’ve noticed is that the government structured it in such a way that the Lekki occurrences should have been investigated by a separate panel entirely.” The panel that was originally proposed was intended to address victims of police brutality and SARS. As a result, that panel lacked the judicial ability to decide these questions from the start.”

Adegboruwa, the panel’s civil society representative, had recused himself long before the report was released and had not attended most of the panel meetings, according to Owonikoko. He insisted that the report should not be taken seriously.

“That report is already polluted,” Owonikoko said, “and I wouldn’t expect the government to implement that kind of study without caution.” I’m curious as to how that gentleman (Adegboruwa) was able to sign off on this report as an impartial and objective account on the facts you’re looking for. He shouldn’t participate because he hasn’t shown up for nearly 15 sittings in this report.”

Defending the Lagos State administration, Owonikoko argued that the only aspect of the report that concerned the government was whether it ordered the deployment of soldiers. He further pointed out that there was no indication that the governor used the army during the panel’s sessions, saying that the report would normally be subjected to judicial review.
Part of the anomalies in the report, according to the lawyer, was that even someone who reportedly testified before the panel was pronounced dead in the report. He claimed that the inconsistencies did not reflect the panel’s thoroughness, and he expressed surprise that such a report should be made public.

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“I read the report,” Owonikoko explained. Since you have now confirmed that it is intended to be real, I have found nearly 40 errors in that report, including paying damages to people who are alleged to have deceased.

“People who never died, who have even come out to say they did not die, including awarding damages to someone they claim died but who was actually a witness to his brother’s death not even at Lekki toll gate,” he said.

“Doesn’t that prove there wasn’t a thorough job done?” How could you make such a grave error as awarding millions of dollars to someone who claims he died when he was actually a witness before you?

“You will discover where the witness was there and they recorded his evidence in the report itself, and they claimed he died and rewarded him N15 million in the list they posted.” I’m not sure what kind of report that is. Any report with such fundamental inaccuracy will be crushed on its own.”

Owonikoko drew a parallel between the Justice Oputa panel and the Okuwobi panel, claiming that even if a white paper on the subject was produced, it was not binding on anyone.

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“You have the right to have it reviewed by a judge in a court of law,” he said. The Oputa panel is an example that you might recall. One of the reasons that some of the recommendations never saw the light of day was that they were challenged in court, with the Supreme Court ruling that some of the issues that the panel investigated, as much as the public was interested in knowing the truth about them, were beyond the federal government’s remit to form a panel to investigate.

“I’m not commenting on a report that has been duly released and can be verified as the result of that judicial investigation.” Nonetheless, I can’t deny that I’m aware that certain documents have been circulating on social media and have elicited answers and opinions.”

He also pointed out that the public report was unsigned, implying that it could well be a minority report.

Owonikoko stated that he had concerns with Adegboruwa, who he claimed was regularly missing during Saturday hearings on the Lekki event, and that the civil society representative lacked the moral right to have signed the document.

“This same gentleman (Olu-Adegboruwa) has no legal or moral authority to sign the report,” Owonikoko explained.

The Lagos State Counsel further stated that there was no mention in the report of hoodlums attempting to attack a traditional ruler and torch the Oriental Hotel in Lekki during the protest.

According to the leaked report, “atrocious maiming and death of unarmed, defenseless, and unresisting #EndSARS demonstrators, while sitting on the floor, waving Nigerian flags, and singing the National Anthem, and so decided that it constituted to a’massacre’.”

It claimed that security forces murdered 11 protestors and injured over 40 others, contradicting army and Lagos State government assurances that no protesters were killed.

“At the Lekki tollgate, the soldiers sprayed blank and live bullets directly and deliberately into the midst of the demonstrators, with the purposeful intent to assault, maim, and murder.” According to the allegation, “the troops sent back ambulances that had been invited to provide first aid and assistance to the wounded demonstrators.”

According to the leaked report, there were attempts to cover up the killings, including soldiers cleaning up bullet shells on the night of October 20, 2020, and cops collecting up bullet shells on the morning of October 21, 2020. It went on to say that LCC officials tampered with the CCTV cameras.

The army, on the other hand, maintained that soldiers stationed at the Lekki tollgate merely fired blank shots into the air and followed all rules of engagement. The Lagos State Government has yet to respond to the report, however it has been reported that the state governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has summoned military to the location.

Lagos government is funding a smear campaign against panel members, according to Adegboruwa.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, a member of the #EndSARS panel, has accused the Lagos State administration of financing a smear campaign against members of the panel.

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In a statement, Adegboruwa claimed that since the #EndSARS panel report was sent to the governor of Lagos State on November 15, members of the panel had been subjected to savage attacks by persons suspected of being government operatives.

Adegboruwa accused the Lagos State government of launching senseless propaganda against panel members while also pleading with the public to be calm.

“Since the submission of the EndSARS panel report to the governor of Lagos State on November 15, 2021, members of the panel have been the target of savage attacks by persons suspected of being government agents,” the statement stated.

“A variety of claims have been leveled against panel members, with some being referred to by unprintable names. I can affirm that no one on the panel campaigned for their appointment.

“In fact, His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State, appealed to me to accept my appointment, which I interpreted as a summons to national duty.” The governor’s main motivation for appointing me to the Panel was that he wanted men and women of integrity who were independent and not susceptible to deception.

“Just recently, my attention was called to an interview conducted by a Senior Counsel for the Lagos State government, in which it was revealed that panel members received bribes while working on the project. The government and its lawyers have acted in an unjust, ungodly, and unexpected manner.”

“The Lagos State Government requested two weeks to allow it to release a White Paper on the panel’s report.” And while we’ve been waiting, it appears that the Lagos State Government has now released senseless propaganda on panel members while pleading with the general public to be calm.

“I have certified true copies of ALL panel proceedings and all exhibits produced before the panel in relation to the Lekki Toll Gate Investigation in my hands.” I encourage the government to summon its agents and lawyers to order in order to avoid escalating the situation.”

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“It is unjust to try to smear people’s hard-won reputations simply because they agreed to provide altruistic service at the government’s request.” Nothing will stop us from defending our integrity if the government and its agents are not restrained from attacking others.

“I should not be subjected to unjustified attacks simply because I agreed to serve the government and the outcome of that assignment did not meet the government’s expectations.” It’s enough to say that I worked with men and women of impeccable character, and I’m honored to be affiliated with them all.”

As a result, Adegboruwa encouraged the Lagos State government to follow through on its promise to release a White Paper on the investigation report within two weeks, as well as “submit the panel’s unedited report to the National Economic Council.”