NEWS
Gov Sanwo-Olu Plans Mass Burial For 103 EndSARS Victims
After several denials, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has given approval for the mass burial of 103 protesters who lost their lives during the October 2020 #EndSARS mass protest against police brutality who were allegedly killed by a joint operation of the Nigerian Army and the police.
According to a letter dated July 19 and seen by the Peoples Gazette, the state government has contracted the services of Messrs Tos Funeral Ltd, a private firm, to carry out the burial. The total cost for the burial of the 103 victims has been estimated at N61,285,000.
The letter reads “Following review of your request and based on the information provided therein, the agency has “No Objection” to the award of contract to MESSRS TOS FUNERALS LIMITED at a total cost of N61,285,000 (Sixty-one million, two hundred and eighty-five thousand Naira only) for the mass burial for the 103, the year 2020 Endsars victims.”
This decision comes nearly three years after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other government officials reportedly denied the brutal killings of unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate on the night of October 20, 2020.
During the incident, the protesters, who were peacefully waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem, were allegedly shot at by the military.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Sanwo-Olu, Gboyega Akosile, was questioned by People’s Gazette about how this recent move reflects on the government’s past denials.
In response, he reportedly laughed and stated that the government would release its response soon.
The decision for the mass burial also follows a call by the Lagos state government for the identification of missing persons, which was largely ignored due to reports of intimidation and harassment faced by individuals who appeared before the panel of inquiry to make claims that potentially incriminated the government.
Despite the findings of the Lagos State’s judicial panel of inquiry, which described the incident at the Lekki toll gate as a massacre and ruled that the war-grade violence unleashed on peaceful protesters led to the death of numerous individuals, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu issued a white paper to affirm his denial of these findings.
However, there is substantial evidence and a series of government decisions that appear to contradict this denial.
For instance, the appointment of former Army chief Turkur Buratai as a diplomatic envoy to the Benin Republic raised suspicions that it was done to protect him from prosecution by the International Criminal Court, implying that the government was aware of the incident and the potential implications.
The judicial panel’s findings reveal alarming details about the incident at the Lekki toll gate during the #EndSARS protests.
According to the panel, the casualties of the incident were exacerbated by the Nigerian Army’s refusal to allow ambulances and medical help to reach injured protesters who were in urgent need of assistance.
Furthermore, the panel stated that the army tampered with the scene by stealing the corpses of the protesters and wiping blood stains, apparently attempting to hide evidence of their actions and obstruct the investigation.
Testifying before the panel of inquiry, Professor John Obafunwa, the Chief Pathologist of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), disclosed that a total of 99 bodies were deposited in morgues across Lagos in connection with the #EndSARS protests.
Some of these bodies displayed bullet wounds, blunt trauma, and bruises, indicating the severity of the violence inflicted upon the protesters.
Notably, three of the 99 bodies were successfully traced to have originated from the Lekki toll gate, where the incident occurred.
The video investigation published by CNN, along with several other videos taken during the incident, provided further evidence confirming that the Nigerian Army and police used live bullets to shoot directly at the protesters during the tragic event at the Lekki toll gate.
Despite the overwhelming evidence and the findings of the Lagos State judicial panel of inquiry, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has seemingly downplayed the incident, asking citizens to “snap out of it” and focus on rebuilding.
However, for the families who lost their loved ones in the violent event, finding closure has become a significant struggle.
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye has passed on.
The news of his passing was leaked by a reliable source under the condition of anonymity.
The sad incident, according to the source, happened in Ado Ekiti in the early hours of Tuesday.
His death is being traced to a sickness which came upon him following the injury he sustained when a section of the Ekiti State High Court Complex, Ado Ekiti wall collapsed in July 12, 2023.
ALSO READ: #EndBadGovernance Protests: Tinubu Orders Release Of Detained Minors
The late Justice Adeyeye was at the office when the building collapse happened and sustained injuries.
While the state and his family were yet to issue statements on his demise, the Ekiti State Chapter of the Association of International Female Lawyers (FIDA) has sent condolences to the family.
The condolences message read: “With deep sorrow in our hearts and in total submission to the will of God, FIDA Ekiti consoles with the family of the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye on his call to glory.
“May He find rest with his maker.
“I pray that God grants the family, the Judiciary and the people of Ekiti State, the grace to bear this irreparable loss.
Adieu great one.”
Justice Adeyeye was born 1960 in Araromi Ugbesi in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State and was called to bar in 1986.
He started his career as a State Counsel in the civil service of the then Ondo State before joining the Ekiti State Judiciary Service Commission shortly after the state was created in 1996.
He was promoted to the position of a judge in the state’s high court in 2002 and has served at different occasions in the election petition tribunal.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed all charges against 76 individuals accused of participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
The ruling came after the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, moved to discontinue the case under orders from President Bola Tinubu.
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Justice Obiora Egwuatu, presiding over the matter, struck out the charges after hearing a motion from the AGF’s representative, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Mohammed Abubakar.
Citing Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, the AGF formally took over the case from the Inspector General of Police, then requested to drop all charges against the defendants, many of whom are minors.
The judge granted the AGF’s application without objection from defense counsel, ordering the immediate release of the accused, who were not present in court.
This decision follows a directive issued on Monday by President Tinubu, instructing the AGF to withdraw charges against the protesters.
More to follow……….
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has raised concerns over alleged monopolistic practices by Dangote Refinery, following a public dispute about fuel pricing in the downstream petroleum sector.
Recall that the refinery, Africa’s largest, recently disclosed its petrol pricing at N990 per litre in trucks and N960 per litre into ships, a move it justifies as being in line with international rates.
READ MORE: Nigeria’s Debt Service Ratio Falls To 65% As Tinubu Tackles Economic Woes
PETROAN, however, sees this as an attempt to suppress competitors and dominate the Nigerian market.
The rift began when Dangote Refinery claimed that complaints from marketers regarding its pricing were fueled by intentions to import cheaper, potentially substandard products.
In response, PETROAN strongly rejected these allegations, suggesting that Dangote’s claims are tactics designed to maintain a monopoly in the sector.
Joseph Obele, PETROAN’s spokesperson, stated that the association remains committed to importing high-quality products at more competitive rates to ensure affordability for Nigerian consumers.
According to PETROAN, competition in the market is essential for achieving fair pricing, and any attempt to stifle it would be detrimental to consumers.
They argue that Dangote Refinery’s pricing should reflect production costs and fair margins rather than international benchmarks, especially given concessions granted by the government for the refinery’s establishment.
PETROAN also announced its plans to partner with foreign refineries and financial backers to import premium-quality petroleum products at prices below current rates.
The association aims to enter the market by December 2024, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
“The allegations that PETROAN will import substandard products are unfounded and aimed at creating an unfair playing field,” the statement read.
PETROAN warned that similar claims in the past had led to significant price hikes when competitors were pushed out, emphasizing that the entry of new players into the market would lead to more competitive pricing and ultimately benefit Nigerian consumers.
PETROAN expressed appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s state-owned refineries and urged the government to consider privatizing the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries once rehabilitation is complete.
The association believes a transparent privatization process will help strengthen Nigeria’s downstream sector and counter monopolistic tendencies.
To address the ongoing pricing challenges in the sector, PETROAN called on the government to convene a comprehensive meeting of industry stakeholders, including major associations like IPMAN, DAPPMAN, MEMAN, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN.
PETROAN believes that collaboration among these groups will be instrumental in establishing a sustainable and competitive pricing framework for petroleum products in Nigeria.
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