LCC confirms it has footage of the Oct 20 #Lekkishootings

The Management of the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) yesterday told the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for Victims of SARS and Related Abuses and Other Matters that the footage of the Oct 20 shootings of the #EndSARS protesters by officers of the Nigerian Army was available.

On a visit to the scene of the shooting, the Panel found five bullet shell casings inside the drainage and the stairs of the Tollgate plaza.

At the visit to the toll gate scene, the nine-man Judicial Panel headed by Justice Doris Okuwobi (Rtd) saw the bullet shell casings as part of its investigations into the incident.

In addition to the Panel, Mr Abayomi Omomuwa, the Managing Director LCC, Mr Gbolahan Agboluwaje, Head of the Legal LCC and newspeople were present at the Lekki toll plaza.

Omomuwa told the panel that the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras mounted on a mast at the toll gate area were working during the shootings. However, he noted that the CCTV was currently not working although the footage of the happenings of October 20 had been captured by the CCTV.

He said it had been damaged by hoodlums the following day, October 21, in the unrest that ensued.

On the panel’s return to the venue of its proceedings, Justice Okuwobi said that the panel had made observations and had asked questions at the scene. She also noted that the panel had not admitted the October 20 footage as evidence but when it is admitted in evidence, it will be played at the proceedings.

Meanwhile, at the resumed proceedings of the panel yesterday, the head of the legal department of LCC, Mr Gbolahan Agboluwaje told the panel that they had no legal representation as they got the letter of invitation from the panel late on Wednesday.

He said, “when we received the letter on Wednesday we discovered that three things were required, which are the footage, the investigation report and any other document. We have the footage, we have not done the investigation report and we don’t have other documents.”

Agboluwaje then asked for an adjournment to enable them get legal representation as they couldn’t get any owing to the short time frame. “We would be happy if we are given time to get a legal representation, we got a very short notice,” he said.

When the Chairman of the panel Justice Okuwobi asked if they had the footage, Agboluwaje said ‘they are prepared to show the footage.

Justice Okuwobi said, “Until he (Agboluwaje) is represented by a counsel, we would not take his testimony, no person would be denied having any legal representation of his choice, but they should bear in mind the terms of reference of this panel.”

Mr Abiodun Owonikoko SAN also announced his appearance at the proceedings to represent Lagos State government. He said, “I have the instructions to represent the Lagos state government in this proceeding.”

The proceeding was thereafter adjourned till Tuesday.

Members of the Panel are Justice Doris Okuwobi (Rtd), Chairman of the panel, Rinu Oduala, Temitope Majekodunmi, other members of the panel are Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, Director, Lagos State Directorate of Citizen’s Rights, Mrs Oluwatoyin Odusanya; a representative of the civil society groups Ms Patience Udoh, and a human rights activist, Lucas Koyejo the Zonal Coordinator (South-West Zone) – National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Mr Segun Awosanya (Segalink).