A member of the panel of inquiry set up by Lagos State government to probe cases of brutality carried out by operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Mr. Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, has accused former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola of tampering with possible evidence.
This is as the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, warned that the panel would not hesitate to summon anyone found to be allegedly involved in any contemptuous act that might obstruct the course of justice.
Olu-Adegboruwa made the allegation on Monday in a statement on his facebook wall.
He said the former governor committed the alleged offence when he joined others to tour the places attacked on Wednesday by persons said to be hoodlums who hijacked the EndSARS protest.
Fashola, he said, was reported to have during the visit along with others, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, discovered a hidden camera, and taken it.
“This is a clear case of illegally tampering with exhibits that may become useful to the Panel in the course of its assignment,” Olu-Adegboruwa said.
Adegboruwa said having given the panel the mandate to probe the shooting at Lekki toll gate, it was “illegal for anyone else to conduct any visit to the said Lekki Toll Plaza in the absence of and without the authority and consent of the Panel.”
The statement by Olu-Adegboruwa, titled “Usurpation of powers of the panel of inquiry on SARS abuses,” reads:
On Sunday, October 25, 2020, it was widely publicised that Ministers and Governors of the South-West visited the Governor of Lagos State on a sympathy tour of structures affected by the wanton looting and destruction that took place last week. In the course of their visit, they were led to the Lekki Toll Plaza, to assess the situation there at. It was at the same Lekki Toll Plaza that the incident of alleged shooting of EndSARS protesters was said to have taken place. And based on public outcry, the Governor of Lagos State added the Lekki Toll Plaza incident to the terms of reference of the Judicial Panel that was set up.
Since the Panel has been vested with jurisdiction over the Lekki Toll Plaza, I verily believe that it is illegal for anyone else to conduct any visit to the said Lekki Toll Plaza in the absence of and without the authority and consent of the Panel. It was reported that in the course of the visit, the former governor of Lagos State and the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, discovered a hidden camera, which he took. This is a clear case of illegally tampering with exhibits that may become useful to the Panel in the course of its assignment.
I appeal to the Governor of Lagos State to allow the Panel the full autonomy and independence that was promised at the time of inauguration. It is contempt of the Panel for anyone to usurp the powers of the Panel in the way that has been reported. In this regard, the Panel will not shy away from summoning anyone who is alleged to be involved in any contemptuous act that may obstruct the course of justice.
I call on all Nigerians to come up with their complaints before the Panel for proper ventilation, as it begins its sitting today.
