•Rinu Steps Down From Lagos Judicial Panel, Accuses FG Of ‘Cover-Up’

•It’ s unconstitutional for Federal Government to threaten us – Organisers

Ibe Pascal Arogorn

The planned protest slated for Saturday, February 13th over the move to reopen Lekki Toll Plaza in Lagos State is generating tension in Lagos State, Daily Trust can report.

This is just as the state police command has deployed men to the Lekki toll plaza along the Lekki-Epe expressway.

Daily Trust reports that the federal government, the state government as well as the police command have vowed to resist any protest to avoid a repeat of the October 2020 protest which led to massive destruction of properties in the state.

Similarly, the concessionaire of the Lekki Toll Gates, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC), also urged the protesters to reconsider their stance, insisting it remains a victim of the #EndSARS protest; the uprising against police brutality which later turned bloody.

The State Judicial Panel of Enquiry had granted LCC’s request to take repossession of the toll gates at Lekki-Epe expressway and Lekki-Ikoyi link bridge, though the panel was divided over the decision.

Following the decision, the organisers of the #EndSARS began to mobilize for another round of protest tagged; #OccupyLekki while another pro-government group also launched a counter move with #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornDemPapaWell.

But the government at the federal and state levels warned that no protest would be allowed to take place while the organisers of the protest insist the protest would go on as planned.

To forestall this, Daily Trust learnt that heavily armed policemen were deployed to the Lekki toll gates on Friday evening with the Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, also on ground at the toll gates.

As of the time of filing this report, heavily armed mobile policemen were still at the toll gates while vehicles were passing at the gates unhindered.

Rinu Steps Down From Lagos Judicial Panel, Accuses FG Of ‘Cover-Up’

One of the prominent youths in the fight against police brutality and extrajudicial killings in the country, Rinu Oduala, has stepped down from the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution set up to investigate cases of police brutality in the state.

She announced the decision in a series of tweets on Friday.

“I will be stepping down from the Lagos Judicial Panel as it is now obvious that the government is only out to use us for performative actions,” she said.

Rinu and Majekodunmi Temitope had been sworn into the panel on October 27, 2020, to represent the youths in the wake of the nationwide #EndSARS protests.

While thanking the government for the invitation and some of the successes recorded from the panel, she, however, stated that she would not be part of a cover-up.

“What I will not do is be part of a cover-up. I am proud that I took the invitation because some of the successes the panel has recorded so far have been incredibly powerful for the people,” she said.

Her decision comes days after the Judicial panel returned control of the Lekki toll gate plaza to its owners, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC).

The toll gate had been one of the major converging points for the protesters in Lagos last year and was also the location for the infamous #LekkiShootings, masterminded by security operatives particularly men of the Nigerian Army.

During the proceedings on Saturday, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, gave a ruling allowing the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) Ltd to repossess the toll gate – a decision that has been met with diverse views from Nigerians, many of whom are of the opinion that the toll gate should remain closed in honour of those lost their lives to the incident.

Fresh protests are believed to be looming, even as the toll gate is expected to undergo reconstruction and subsequently, resume full operations.

Reacting to the planned re-opening, Rinu said “my stand on the reopening on the toll gate is clear; the state govt & the private organisation operating the toll have not been cleared of collusion with elements allegedly deployed by the Federal Government to target citizens on home soil during a time of peace, without provocation”.

Groups mobilise for today ’ s protests

Some young Nigerians, under the aegis of EndSARS Season 2, on Friday, said they had started mobilising other protesters ahead of Saturday’ s ( today) mass demonstration against the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry to reopen the Lekki tollgate .

Kunle Ajayi , one of the promoters of the protest , confirmed to the PUNCH that mobilisation for the protest was underway .
Also , when asked if the protest would hold as planned, he said , “ Of course . ”

He noted that the protest would begin at 7am adding , that it was ‘ the people that will determine how long it lasts . ’

Speaking on the Federal Government ’ s threat to deploy armed security personel , Ajayi said , “ The government is wrong. It is against the constitution because the constitution is supreme . ”

Asked if measures were being taken to ensure hoodlums do not hijack the protest as anticipated by the Federal Government , he said , “ Sure , there have not been hoodlums hijacking protests except the government . The government has been the one . ”

On whether he had received threats of arrest in relation to the planned protest, he said , “ I wasn ’ t threatened with arrest but we have some persons who are part of the people that want to ‘ defend Lagos ’ sending threats , which have been ( forwarded ) privately to me .

“ They have been sending messages on social media , saying they would kill , maim and destroy . Our own group will be as peaceful as ever; we don’ t know about the police and others . ”

Another promoter of the protest, Juwon Sanyaolu , told
the PUNCH that the protest would go on as scheduled, noting that COVID -19 safety measures had been prescribed to demonstrators .

Sanyaolu said , “ Everyone has been asked to come with face masks to ensure COVID – 19 compliance . We are acting in line with constitutional requirements. We are not bothered about the government ’ s irresponsibility and lack of respect for its citizens. ”

Responding to concerns about the Federal Government ’ s warnings, he said , “ No ! It is a constitutional process . We are not concerned at all because protests are allowed by law . Section 39 gives us the right to free expression . Section 40 gives us the right to assembly , so we are covered .

“ If you even
at the constitution, any law that is inconsistent with that provision of the constitution has been considered null and void . So , we are acting within the ambits of the law. The statement from the Federal Government or police ( against the protest ) is completely illegal and undemocratic . ”

On whether if he was worried about the threats to deploy security forces to Lekki tollgate , he argued that deploying armed security men would be a violation of the constitution , but that it would not be new .

Sanyaolu said , “ They are already doing it with lawlessness. They did it up till October 20 during the # EndSARS protests. Our agitation during the # EndSARS protests was against an expression of lawlessness by state forces . They continue to perpetrate this lawlessness; remember how they attacked and shot at Shiite protesters in Abuja . Remember what they did to students of UNIABUJA just about a week ago .

“ That is the situation on the ground, but we will not submit our right to lawlessness and tyranny. In an atmosphere of lawlessness, what we need to do is courageously engage such lawlessness to restore the rule of law.

“ At this point in time , our government is lawless and as citizens, we want to exercise our right to lawful assembly to call the government to order out of their lawlessness. It is quite unfortunate but we are not bothered . It is a government of anarchy and impunity. But it has never happened in history where tyranny wins. The will of the people always prevails. ”

On the # DefendLagos counter-protest, he said , “ It ’ s quite laughable . Of course , every group has its democratic right , but unfortunately, these persons are operating under the whims and payroll of the government .

“ Where was # DefendLagos when people’ s houses were demolished in Lekki a few years ago ? Where were they when mayhem was unleashed in Obalende, right in front of a police station ? The truth of the matter is that # DefendLagos is only defending the property and private interests of the Lagos ruling class, not the interests of Lagosians . ”

Meanwhile, a lawyer , Dele Farotimi, who appeared on
Newsday, a programme of Arise TV , on Friday, noted that he had appealed the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry .

He , however , alleged that the government had a history of using undemocratic means to prevent protests at Lekki tollgate.

Farotimi said , “ It is dirty to the ear that, in a democracy , patently fascist tactics are constantly employed by the state in seeking to put down the grievances of a people . Every time there has been an attempt at protesting at the Lekki tollgate , there has always been organised resistance by the state, combining the use of thugs and the Nigerian police to break those protests.

“ The first time it came to national attention was merely October 20 because the army was involved this time round . This one that a protest has again been called for Saturday and there are threats of violence, note that the threats of violence have come exclusively from those who are organising the counter- protest.

“ I say without equivocation , the counter-protest has all the fingerprints of the Lagos State Government and we believe that if anything should happen to a single person in that place , we know who to face . ”

But a # DefendLagos campaigner , Olusoga Owoeye, criticised the protesters and urged the government to intervene .

Speaking on the deployment of security forces at the Lekki tollgate, Owoeye said , “ That is what the government should do. A lot of people don’ t understand what we are saying . We are not saying that the # EndSARS protest was a protest; it was a riot and an insurrection.

“ Those who think we are opposing protests don’ t understand what we are saying . We are saying they are not protesters ; they are rioters . They are hoodlums . They are people who want to destroy Lagos . They have done it before – N 1tn worth of infrastructure was destroyed in Lagos . Why would those people come out and say , ‘ We want to protest again ’?”

He further argued that the Lekki tollgate was not in contention when the # EndSARS
demands were listed .

“ Lekki was just a venue . It ’ s like you want to get married and you rent a venue and after your wedding, you say the venue should not be used for business anymore, just because some people fought at your event .

“ Also , these are people saying we are in a democracy . You went to a panel and nine people voted , five for and four against. Now , the people that lost at the panel want to enforce their will by using the power of the mob. So , we are compelling the government to act and protect Lagos infrastructure, ” Owoeye stated.

On whether justice had been delivered for the victims of police brutality , he said ,
“# EndSARS is not a Lagos matter . It’ s a national matter . It’ s not the ‘ Lagos State Police Force ’; it’ s the Nigeria Police Force that we ’ re seeking to reform .

“ Why are they not focused on the people killed in Ogbomoso ( Oyo State ) , Enugu, Edo or Anambra State ? Why aren’ t they asking the former Anambra governor who was in power when they were killed to appear before the panel ? Lagos ( protest) is not about SARS; it is political . It is about violent opposition seeking to terminate an elected government .

“ Assuming the 5-4 vote was the other way around , what do you think we would be doing now ? Would Lagos be able to forcefully hand over that tollgate to the owner of that place ? But they lost; the only thing they can do is go back to court and appeal the decision of the Lagos State Judicial Panel.

“ If we are democrats , once you lose , don’ t resort to mob action . The government must enforce the law , get people arrested and jailed if they want to disturb public peace . ”

Police warn against unlawful gathering in Osun

Similarly , the Osun State Police Commissioner , Mr Wale Olokode, on Friday, warned against unlawful gathering , saying intelligence had revealed plans by some people to support the organisers of the #EndSARS protest in the state.

A statement signed by Yemisi Opalola, the Police Public Relations Officer for Osun Command, on behalf of Olokode, advised the people behind the plan to jettison the idea, as the security operatives would not condone any act of lawlessness.

Olokode also warned against the deliberate blocking of roads, molestation of innocent members of the public, and destruction under any guise.

He assured the people of the state to go about their lawful business without fear of molestation, as adequate security would be provided for lives and property .

The statement read in parts , “ Intelligence available to the command revealed that some unscrupulous elements are planning to embark on unlawful gathering, in solidarity with EndSARS protesters , and take over , on Saturday, February 13, 2021, some parts of the State of Osun .

“ The Commissioner of Police has advised that this unlawful plan be jettisoned, and consequently warned that the command will not condone any act( s ) that will jeopardise the peace and tranquility presently enjoyed in the state.

“ Note also that the gathering of any sort now is unlawful and a violation of COVID -19 laws . The CP appeals , therefore , that parents and guardians should warn their children or wards to desist from any act( s ) capable of causing the breach of peace in the state.

“ Be warned also that the command will not tolerate deliberate blocking of roads to impede free – flow of human and vehicular movements , molestation of innocent members of the public, and destruction of any kind whatsoever. This will be resisted decisively . ”