Rinu Oduala, one of the promoters of the #EndSARS protests, has withdrawn from the Lagos judicial panel set up to investigate cases of police brutality and the shooting incident at the Lekki Toll Plaza that took place on the 20th of October 2020.
Oduala was one of the youth representatives on the panel set up in the wake of the #EndSARS protests that demanded an end to police brutality and extra-judicial killings.
At the panel’s sitting last Saturday, it approved the return of Lekki toll gate to the control of Lekki Concession Company (LCC).
Oduala and Temitope Majekodunmi, another youth representative, had kicked against the decision, saying their views were not reflected in the ruling and the move won’t allow justice to be served.
READ ALSO: EndSARS: Lagos Panel Approves Reopening Of Lekki Tollgate
On Friday, Rinu said she could no longer stay on the panel as she would not be part of a cover-up.
In a statement, she said justice had not been served for victims of the Lekki shooting, but took pride in the fact that victims of police brutality are being seen and heard by government.
“My stand on the reopening on the toll gate remains clear; the state government and the private organisation which operates the toll have not been cleared of collusion with elements allegedly deployed by the federal government to target Nigerian citizens on home soil during a time of peace, without provocation,” the former youth representative said.
“Justice has not been served, and as a representative of the Nigerian citizenry, my only recourse is to stay the course of justice. Let me be clear: I chose to honour the invitation to represent my peers and to stand as an example that any Nigerian has the right to demand accountability of elected government officials and that our institutions, however flawed, can still deliver justice.
“What I will not do is be part of a cover-up. I am proud that I took the invitation because some of the successes the panel has recorded so far have been incredibly powerful for the people.
“For the first time, SARS victims have had the opportunity to be truly seen and heard by the government, by the public, and by the system that allowed them to be victims in the first place.”
According to Oduala, the panel achieved “partial wins”, but they were not sufficient.
READ ALSO: Police Arrest Mr Macaroni, Others Over #OccupyLekkiTollGate Protest
“The panel allowed victims of police intimidation and brutality to have their day in the light of justice. They got to expose the violence that was meted out, to experience some catharsis from having the government acknowledge its failures and, in many cases, are going to be receiving some compensation, however inadequate for the disruption to their lives,” she said.
“This is further than we have ever come as a nation, and while this same rigour was not applied to the case of the Lekki Toll shootings, we can at least celebrate the wins that our brothers and sisters can finally claim in their fight for justice, and recognise that our collective will is more powerful than any institution.
“However, partial wins are not enough for me. I decided to join this fight because I wanted the government to recognise its failures and work to overhaul its security institutions. I did not expect piecemeal acknowledgements and efforts to sabotage vital proceedings.
“But at the end of the day, parties on the panel voted to reopen the toll, citing lost jobs as more important than justice for lost lives through a proceeding that didn’t form a proper quorum without the reps who represent the youth constituency that birthed the idea of the panel, I did not expect piecemeal acknowledgements and efforts to sabotage vital proceedings.
“On 6th February 2021, we were ambushed with votes to reopen the toll gate. I participated because I do not believe in silence. It is clear where my loyalties lie and on whose mandates the panels were set up.
“Coupled with the undue intimidation of peaceful protesters, the cyber attacks accounts loyal to the government, and many more, I will be stepping down from the Lagos Judicial Panel as it is now obvious that the government is only out to use us for performative actions.
“We must not forget the purpose of this panel: to address injustice and create accountability for the SARS brutality and for the heinous events on 20th October 2020. When calls for justice are subsumed by commercial concerns and vested interests, it calls into question the legitimacy and integrity of the entire affair & the impartiality of the proceedings.
“Without a final panel report or actionable steps, we are returning to the status quo.”
© ControlTV 2021.
