Army, Police Killed Protesters, LCC Manipulates CCTV Footages, Lekki Tollgate Panel Reports.

 

                                                The Panel Sitting

In contradiction to both the Lagos state and federal governments official stayement on the Lekki tollgate EndSARS incident last year, the judicial panel of inquiry led by Justice Doris Okuwobi final report submitted to the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has indicted the Nigerian Police, and the Nigerian Army for their actions on the night of the incident with a clear submission that their behavior on the said night is tantamount to massacre and hence recommend that the officers involved  should be made to face the full wrath of the law. 

             Justice Doris Okuwobi Presenting the report to Lagos state Governor  

According to a CNN online publication today on the Panel’s report; lethal violence committed by Nigeria’s military on the night of October 20, 2020 could be considered a massacre, a statement which clearly contradicts previous accounts of the incidents.

The panel which was charged with investigating the notorious Lekki tollgate shooting last year, when armed security forces opened fire on young peaceful Nigerian youths who have been protesting against police brutality, especially the rogue SARS unit.

The report as submitted by the Panel which is seen by many islanders as a bombshell, accused the Nigerian Army officers of firing live rounds into the crowd, injured and killing unarmed helpless and defenseless protesters, without provocation or justification, in spite of the proven evidence that these young Nigerians were waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem, hence consider their action a ‘massacre’.  The indictment against the Army did not stop there, as the Panel also submits that the Army also refuses Ambulance to render medical assistance to victims, an act that is against military rule of engagement. The panel thereby recommend that all the officers (excluding Major General Omata) and men of the Nigerian Army that were deployed to the scene be made to face appropriate disciplinary action, stripped of their status, and dismissed as they are not fit and proper to serve in any public or security service of the nation.

Also accused and indicted is the Nigerian Police Force, who deployed its officers from Maroko Police Station to the Lekki tollgate. The report said, the police officers shot at, assaulted and battered unarmed protesters, which led to injuries and deaths. The police also were reported to have tried to cover and clean up their atrocities, by picking up bullets. As a result of their involvement, the panel recommends that the Divisional police officer of the Maroko Police Station along with policemen deployed be prosecuted for arbitrary and indiscriminate shooting and killing of protesters. 

The Panel also accused and indicted the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) for refusal to provide vital evidence that would have aided the panel’s investigation. The company was also accused manipulating the CCTV footages presented to the panel during its sitting.

Islanders who we spoke to praised the courage and professionalism displayed by the panel, while encouraging the state government led by the executive Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to complete the task by ensuring justice is served to all who were indicted and the families whose loved ones were killed or injured.

 

Who Authorized the Reopening of the Collapsed Ikoyi Building?

As residents of ikoyi island axis of Lagos state, and indeed Lagosians grapples with the unfortunate incident of the collapse supposed 21 story building on Monday the 1st of November 2021 that has so far claimed the lives of over 40 people, including the developer Femi Osibona popularly known as Femi Fourscore, the question on the lips of many islanders that requires an urgent answer, even as the Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had commissioned a panel of inquiry into the incident is; who authorized the reopening of the collapse building project that was sealed sometime last year? 

Just hours after the sad incident, dramas started to unfold. First was the indefinite suspension of the General Manager Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Gbolahan Oki by the Lagos state governor Babajide Sanwu-Olu. Mr Oki was quoted to have said that the effected building owner got approval to erect 15 floors and not 21 floors, a claim that was immediately countered by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State Femi Hmazat, who said the approval for the collapsed project was for 21 floors. This didn’t go down well with the Executive Governor of the state who immediately brought the axe on the LASBCA boss. 

Whilst this drama was still unfolding, a letter of disengagement purported written by the structural engineering firm consulting for the project up until February 2020 surfaced on the internet. Details of the said letter reveals that the company, Prowess Engineering Limited with office at 30a Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja G.R.A, had formerly informed the building company Fourscore Heights limited, through Mr Femi Osibona of her intention to withdraw from the ongoing project. Prowess Limited in the letter signed by Muritala Olawale, Managing Director has given as reasons for the withdrawal the disparity of visions between the company and the project owners, especially as the were no longer getting the concrete cube test results of the said collapsed building. To further buttress their argument for the withdrawal, Prowess Limited had assured of the concrete strength of the first two buildings which is still standing today, and only up to the fourth floor of the particular building that collapsed. 

Whilst on her part, the Lagos state government came out to say that the Fourscore heights project tagged 360 degrees by the developer was sealed sometime last year. According to report credited to the Punch Newspaper, the state deputy governor Femi Hamzat had said the project was sealed for four months last year; from July till November 2020. The sealing of the construction site was due to some structural defects the state agency responsible discovered during a structural test, which they insisted must be corrected before the site would be reopened. 

Videos soon emerged on the internet of a man supposed to be Mr. Osibona, the Fourscore Height owner entangled in a scuffle with men believed to be from the state agency with visible armed policemen somewhere in ikoyi axis. The said videos were that of Mr Osibona resisting arrest or the sealing of the project by the state authority. That said, there are enough proves that the state government and her relevant agencies were very much aware of the impending danger of the collapsed building and had subsequently taken action. But the answer many Lagosians, especially relatives and friends of those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate incident would like to get is; who authorized the reopening of the construction site? 

There is no doubt that the site was reopened for construction work as many stories including that of the sad incident of a Redeemed Christian Church of God Parish Pastor cum engineer who came with about forty labourers to the site is one indication, plus other stories of people whose loved were working on the site were either dead, still trapped or miraculously survived the collapsed 21 story building incident.

Many islanders who we spoke were very happy about the swift reaction of the state governor in setting up a panel of inquiry over the incident, but said the state government should get down to why such project that was sealed for structural defeat was reopened, and point out the exact person who gave the reopening order, while ensuring that the said individual and others who may have a hand in the ill-fated incident face the full wrath of the law, both to act as a deterrent to others who may want to toe the line and boost investors’ confidence on the integrity of the Lagos state government and her relevant agencies in ensuring that global real estate practices is uphold in the state, especially on the multi billion dollars island real estate sector.

Ikoyi High Rise Building Collapse: Many feard Dead

On Monday, the 1st of November 2021, Island residents and indeed Lagosians were ushered into the new month of November with the tragic news of a collapse high Rise building under construction on Gerald Road Ikoyi. The sad incident happened with a lot of people trapped inside, while many were feared dead. As at Tuesday morning, reports from different media publications gave the number of dead bodies recovered from the rubbles to about 20.

A day after the building collapse, the general manager of the Lagos state Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr. Gbolahan Oki was suspended by the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. Mr. Oki was reported to have said that the collapsed building had approval for only 15 floors, while submitting that it was inferior materials used for the construction that caused the building to collapse. This report by the LASBCA boss was refuted by the Deputy Governor of Lagos State Obafemi Hamzat, who said the construction got approval for 21 story building, and not 15 as claimed by Mr Oki.

A letter which was purported written to the owner of the project by a former Structural consulting firm handling the project was circulating on the internet. The letter of intent to withdraw from the project was written on the 20th of February 2020, and addressed to Fourscore Heights Limited, signed by Muritala Olawale; Managing Director of Prowess Engineering Limited.

Some Island residents we spoke to were more concerned with how the government would handle this unfortunate incident, making reference to the Lekki Gardens collapse building in the Ekegushi area of lekki few years back, which many felt the real estate company were not decisively dealt with. While we all wait to see how the Lagos state government would handle the situation, our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their loved ones in the tragic incident.