#EndSARS: CDD warns against discrediting Lagos Panel Report

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) on Sunday cautioned against attempts by some unscrupulous individuals to discredit the report of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Restitution for the victims of police brutality, #EndSARS protest and extra-judicial killings by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Nigeria Police, led by Justice Doris Okuwobi.

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in a statement on Sunday by the Director, Idayat Hassan, warning against attempts to discredit the document, demanded full implementation of the report

The CDD further told the Lagos State Government that the imperatives for a White Paper Report should not override the objective of addressing key social justice issues that the report identified, maintaining that the Lagos State Governor should know that this is a defining moment for his leadership.

The CDD declared: “He should do well to publish the report and implement all the recommendations in it.

“At CDD, we reiterate that justice delay is justice denied; hence, the necessity to expedite action on the report. The victims have waited a whole year. It is time to heal wounds and provide succor for the victims.

“More importantly, the governor is being enjoined to be courageous and pitch his tent on the side of justice and for the people in this case, irrespective of whether he was also challenged in the report or not.

“At this point in time, his integrity is highly needed. His government must implement the full report in order to balance the trust deficit that currently exists between the government and the public.”

The Centre expressed its satisfaction with the process, outcome, and recommendations of the panel.

The statement asserted: the report “reflects high-level impartiality and genuine attempt to deliver justice and closure for the victims of police brutality and SARS in the country.

“The leaked 309-page report, which has been trending in the news, indicted the Police, the Army, Lekki Concession Company, and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, indicating that there was “contextual massacre” at Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020, contrary to official denials, stating that at least there was killing, injuring, and or assaulting of 48 protesters by soldiers and police in the incident.”

Press at Lekki Toll Gate

The Centre admonished the government not to “miss this important opportunity to rebuild trust and provide closure for the victims of police brutality and SARS in the country.”

The CDD also asserted that opposition claims need incontrovertible proof before they can be taken seriously.

The judicial panel submitted its report to the Lagos State Government, thereafter, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu appointed a four-member committee led by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), to write a White Paper on the reports for further actions.