Lekki shootings: Army rejects Lagos panel’s summons for General, Colonel

The Nigerian Army was on Saturday alleged to have rejected witness summons issued for Major General Godwin Umelo and Lieutenant Colonel S.O Bello by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and the Lekki Toll Gate Incident.

Both men were summoned by the panel to explain their role in the military’s operation at the Lekki Toll Gate during the #EndSARS protests on October 20.

This followed the testimony of the Commander of 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Ibrahim Taiwo, debunking claims that soldiers shot #EndSARS protesters with live bullets during the operation.

Bello was the Commanding Officer of the 65 Batallion, which was at the toll gate on the evening of October 20.

Petitioners at the tribunal have alleged that soldiers fired live bullets at peaceful protesters, killing and injuring several, contrary to the army and the Federal Government’s claim that only blanks were fired, in the air to disperse stone-throwers.

At the resumption of the panel’s proceedings yesterday, neither Umelo nor Bello was available. The military’s counsel was also absent.

The panel’s lawyer, Mr. Jonathan Ogunsanya stated that it had twice tried to serve the witness summons on the army, but soldiers at the gate rejected service.

Ogunsanya said: “It was on the order of this honourable panel that summons of the witness was issued and served to Major General Godwin Umelo for today’s proceedings and the same was received on the 30th of November 2020 precisely at 6:04 pm.

“The dispatch rider was also there, they refused to accept service.”

He advised the panel to serve the officers through the army’s counsel.

A counsel holding brief for the Lagos State, Mr. Olukayode Enitan, aligned himself with Ogunsanya’s submission.

Rationalising Umelo’s non-appearance, Enitan said his absence might not be unconnected with the outbreak of COVID-19 in the military high command which reportedly caused the death of a General.

He prayed that the military should be given another opportunity to appear before the panel.

One of the #EndSARS protesters’ counsel, Mr Adesina Ogunlana agreed that the officers should be re-summoned because the military’s position is subject to civil authority.

Ogunlana said: “I think it is a bit of an affront that summons coming from a panel like this will be refused. The panel should take a very serious view of this.”

In her ruling on the matter, Judge Emeritus Doris Okuwobi ordered that the officers should be served their summons through the military’s counsel.

The panel chair held: “Learned senior counsel for the Lagos State Government has submitted that an adjournment be allowed on the grounds of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the military command.

“There is the application that the Colonel be served through their counsel, Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN. Mr Adesina Ogunlana aligned himself with Mr. Ogunsanya that service be made through their counsel.

“In the light of those submissions, it is hereby ordered that service on Lt. Col Bello shall be effected through their counsel on record. The first summons shall be issued to Maj General Omelo, on or before the next adjourned date, which is the eighth day of January 2021 then the matter will come up for further hearing.”

Related Articles

75 COMMENTS

  1. I am not sure where you’re getting your information, but great topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding
    more. Thanks for excellent information I was looking for this information for my
    mission.

    Here is my webpage: fakenews.win

  2. Woah! I’m really digging the template/theme of this site. It’s simple, yet effective.
    A lot of times it’s difficult to get that “perfect balance” between superb
    usability and visual appeal. I must say you’ve done a excellent job with
    this. Additionally, the blog loads super quick for me on Opera.
    Excellent Blog!

    Here is my page; morphomics.science

  3. Hey there! I know this is sort of off-topic but I needed to ask.
    Does operating a well-established website such as yours
    require a large amount of work? I am completely new to
    running a blog but I do write in my journal daily.
    I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my personal experience and views online.
    Please let me know if you have any kind of ideas or tips for new aspiring blog owners.

    Thankyou!

    Feel free to visit my web page :: http://www.vingle.net

  4. Hey there! I know this is somewhat off-topic but I had
    to ask. Does running a well-established blog like yours require a lot of work?
    I’m completely new to blogging but I do write in my diary on a daily basis.
    I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my personal experience and views
    online. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or tips for
    new aspiring bloggers. Thankyou!

    Feel free to surf to my homepage :: http://bioimagingcore.be/q2a/index.php?qa=user&qa_1=tentqueen8

  5. Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a sea shell
    and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She put the
    shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab
    inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back!
    LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!

    Feel free to surf to my blog post :: public.sitejot.com

  6. Hi there! This is kind of off topic but I need some advice from an established
    blog. Is it hard to set up your own blog? I’m not
    very techincal but I can figure things out pretty quick.
    I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where
    to start. Do you have any points or suggestions?
    With thanks

    My page … joypdf.com

  7. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the
    video to make your point. You obviously know what youre talking about, why throw
    away your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could
    be giving us something enlightening to read?

    Review my blog: gyanbodh.com

  8. I like the valuable info you supply on your articles.
    I will bookmark your blog and test again right
    here regularly. I’m relatively certain I’ll be told plenty of new stuff right right here!
    Best of luck for the following!

    Also visit my web blog; dokuwiki.stream

  9. I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the
    layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
    Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it
    is rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.

    Take a look at my page anotepad.com

  10. This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
    I’ve joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your wonderful post.
    Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

    Feel free to visit my homepage – y4yy.com

  11. You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I
    find this topic to be really something which I think I would never understand.
    It seems too complicated and very broad for
    me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to
    get the hang of it!

    Take a look at my website http://www.folkd.com

  12. I’m extremely impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog.
    Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself?
    Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it’s rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.

    my web site – klauskateisto.lt

  13. I loved as much as you’ll receive carried out
    right here. The sketch is tasteful, your authored material stylish.
    nonetheless, you command get got an impatience over that you wish be delivering the following.
    unwell unquestionably come further formerly again as exactly
    the same nearly a lot often inside case you shield
    this hike.

    Look at my page ffskybbsjp.azurewebsites.net

  14. This design is wicked! You definitely know how to keep a reader amused.

    Between your wit and your videos, I was almost
    moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Excellent job.

    I really loved what you had to say, and more than that,
    how you presented it. Too cool!

    Stop by my blog … idea.informer.com

  15. I loved as much as you will receive carried out right here.
    The sketch is attractive, your authored subject matter
    stylish. nonetheless, you command get got an nervousness over that you
    wish be delivering the following. unwell unquestionably come further formerly
    again since exactly the same nearly very often inside case you shield this increase.

    Review my blog post; wiki.openn.eu

Stay Connected.

1,169,000FansLike
34,567FollowersFollow
1,401,000FollowersFollow
0SubscribersSubscribe
- Advertisement -

Latest Articles