Lekki Toll Gate: Don’t stage another protest – Renowned lawyer warns Sowore, others

Renowned activist lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has warned EndSARS campaigners against staging another protest over the planned reopening of the Lekki toll gate.

Lekki toll gate was the scene of the October 20, 2020 fatal shooting of unarmed protesters by Nigerian soldiers.

Recall that a nine-man judicial panel on law enforcement brutality had, in a five-four split, voted to return control of the toll gate to its handlers, the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) — owned by the Lagos government amidst wranglings by dissenting panel members.

However, the #EndSARS movement will face stiff opposition from pro-government protesters, who have thrown their weight behind the reopening of one of the state’s largest revenue contributors.

Mr. Adegboruwa, a senior advocate, appealed to the agitators to shelve the planned simultaneous demonstrations in the interest of peace.

“The alleged bloodshed, mayhem, repressions, and violence of October 2020 in general, should not be encouraged to be repeated,” the Lagos-based rights lawyer said in a statement sent to Peoples Gazette Wednesday.

“A protest or counter-protest at this time, may work to jeopardise the overall work of the panel, the witnesses appearing or to appear, the testimonies, the investigations or even affect its ultimate assignment.

“I’m concerned about the consequences of protests and counter-protests, at the same location, in relation to security and likely violation of COVID 19 protocols, given the rising wave of the pandemic, in Lagos State especially, where most economic, social, educational, and other activities, are partially grounded, presently,” Mr. Adegboruwa argued.