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#OccupyLekki: Sanwo-Olu never directed police to brutalise protesters, says commissioner
Sodiq Oyeleke
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has vowed to ensure that police officers who allegedly brutalised #OccupyLekkiTollgate protesters on Saturday are brought to book.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, stated this at a media briefing organised by the Lekki Concession Company.
The commissioner explained that Sanwo-Olu never directed the police to assault anyone, adding that the governor would not stand by and watch Lagosians being brutalised.
Omotoso said, “The governor is very unhappy with what happened on Saturday, that people were brutalized, and he has directed Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu to investigate the matter. Whoever is found culpable, I assure you, will not go without punishment. This is because Mr. Sanwo-Olu has said it loud and clear that he is not somebody who will abuse the rights of others.
#OccupyLekkiTollGate protesters arrested
There was widespread anger on Saturday following the arrest of 40 persons who protested peacefully against the reopening of the Lekki Tollgate Plaza in Lagos State.
The peaceful protesters were arrested on Saturday and locked up in standby Black Marias.
Police consequently brought them before a mobile court in Yaba for conspiracy, conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace and violation of COVID-19 protocols.
The Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry probing police brutality and alleged killings of #EndSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki Tollgate, had ruled that the tollgate be handed back to its operator, Lekki Concession Company, after forensic experts submitted their report on the October 20, 2020 incident.
•Heavy police presence deters protesters
•Adegboruwa threatens to pull out of judicial panel
Tobi Soniyi, Segun James, Rebecca Ejifoma in Lagos and Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano
The Lagos State Government yesterday filed charges at against ten #ENDSARS protesters arrested on Saturday even as many failed to show up for the protest amid heavy presence of police who had condoned off the Lekki Tollgate Plaza, the venue of the protest.
They were arraigned before a mobile court and were granted bail in the sum of N100,000 each.
A copy of the charge obtained by THISDAY reveals that ten suspects namely Answer Harrison (m), Adekanbi Kayode (m), Yomi Orungbamila, Anjorin Joseph Seye, Paul Terkuma (m), Dayo Keshinro (m), Belema Briggs, Anisere Sodiq (m), Olanrewaju Olonta (m) and Damilare Abímbólá were charged before the Lagos State Magistrate Court, Yaba Magisterial Division.
On Saturday morning, dozens of armed police officers were stationed at the tollgate awaiting any protesting group. At about 7 a.m., about three patrol vans filled with police officers headed towards Lekki. It was unclear what their mission was.