EndSARS Report: FG’s Position Will Encourage More Brutalities, Says Jimi Agbaje

A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State, Jimi Agbaje, has flayed the Federal Government for rubbishing the report of the EndSARS Panel set up to investigate police brutality and the alleged killing of peaceful protesters at the Lekki Tollgate on Lagos.

The panel headed by Justice Okuwobi had submitted the reports of the investigation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu where it stated that nine persons were killed at Lekki Tollgate on the night of October 20, 2020.

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, who had since denied killings at the tollgate while responding to the report described it as a rehash of fake news already in circulation.

But Agbaje, in an interview with journalists on Wednesday, said the frantic efforts of the Federal Government to.rubbish the report would further encourage more brutality.

He said, “The issue is who gave the directive? Even in the military engagements, when you are given unlawful directive, you are bond to resist such a directive.

“If we are serious, it’s time for people to pay for the consequences of their actions. For me , we should get to the root of what happened and ensure that people are disciplined for whatever wrong they did.

“Those youths came out to protest about police brutality and this ( government denial) in itself is brutality since it is now confirmed that people were killed. If you don’t do anything about that, then you are encouraging further brutality.

“For me, people definitely must be sanctioned , they must be brought to book for breaking the laws of the land.”

Agbaje while answering questions on electronic transmission of election results said he supported the idea.

“As regards the Electoral Amendment, let me say I am in support of the e-transmission of results.

“On the issue of direct and indirect primary election, as a democrat, I believe each party should decide how it wants to run its primary elections.

“Having said that , I have seen the arguments from both sides but I believe parties should be given the power to decide how they want to elect their candidates,” Agbaje added.