#LekkiMassacre: Army Colonel who led soldiers to tollgate refuses summon from Lagos Panel
Lieutenant Colonel S.O Bello of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, has turned down the witness summons served to him by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry.
Mr. Bello who led the team of Nigerian soldiers that opened fire on protesters at the Lekki Toll in October, shunned all attempts to have him testify at the panel.
Jonathan Ogunsanya, counsel to the protesters, stated this before the panel at its session on Saturday. The case involving the Nigerian Army was slated for further hearing as the panel sought to further question its role in the shootings.
The Army and its personnel involved were markedly absent at the Saturday session.
Mr. Ogunsanya said that Mr. Bello refused to accept the summons served on him, which had been done through a courier.
Counsel to the protesters noted that similar summon was served on Godwin Umelo, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 81 Division, and the summon had been accepted. However, Mr. Umelo was absent at the proceedings as well.
Olukayode Enitan, Lagos State Counsel, speculated that the absence of military personnel may be as a result of the outbreak of coronavirus within the ranks.
The panel adjourned proceedings to January 8, 2021 for further hearing.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
ECDC warns drug-resistant gonorrhoea spreading across Europe
ECDC said that gonorrhoea remains one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases globally.
Heading 3
NCDC reaffirms commitment to preventing Ebola outbreak
Mr Idris said Nigeria currently had no confirmed Ebola cases.
States
Troops foil bandit attack in Kano, recover 97 cattle, 50 sheep
“Recovered cattle have been returned to their rightful owners,” he said.
Economy
Tinubu approves two road projects in Anambra
The projects are the 108-kilometre Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road and the 150-kilometre Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube/Okigwe Junction Road, both approved for dualisation.
Economy
FAAN set to introduce facial ID screening at airports
The agency said the system will enable passengers to verify their identities digitally, reducing reliance on physical identification documents at airports.
