The scheduled sitting of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry on restitution for victims of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and related abuses by security agencies was on Saturday stalled for lack of quorum.
The panel had fixed Saturday to take evidence from the Nigerian Army, but the proceedings failed to continue due to the absence of youths’ representatives, Majekodunmi Temitope and Oduala Bolatito Olorunrinu.
It was gathered that the duo did not make an appearance at the panel in protest against the freezing of Oduala’s First Bank account by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Oduala’s bank account was allegedly frozen on Friday over alleged sponsorship of the #EndSARS protests.
The Nigerian Army was led on Saturday at the panel by its counsel, A. T. Kehinde (SAN).
The chairman of the panel, retired Justice Doris Okuwobi, announced the suspension of the panel’s sitting till November 14.
She said: “We are confronted with a situation which prevented her (Oduala Bolatito Olorunrinu) from coming. We do not know if the two youths’ representatives will eventually pull out.
“We don’t want a situation where proceedings would go on and later it is impugned with controversy for lack of quorum.”
Justice Okuwobi said it was important that all sittings of the panel would be held in accordance with the law.
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“In all matters, we have to wait for them (youths’ representatives) to join us. Without them, we are handicapped,” she stressed.
Lead counsel to Nigerian Army, A. T. Kehinde (SAN), said they came before the panel pursuant to summon dated October 28.
Kehinde expressed appreciation to members of the panel for taking them into confidence on the challenges it was facing.
He asked to be guided on the next date his client would appear before the panel.
Counsel to Lagos State Government, Olukayode Enitan (SAN), aligned himself with the submission of Kehinde.
According to Enitan: “The issue of quorum is if utmost importance as to the competence of the panel to proceed and as to the integrity of recommendation to be made at the end of proceedings.
“Therefore, the directive for the panel to adjourn is quite appropriate.”
Olumide Fusika (SAN), who appeared for the first time, said he accepted to represent some victims who wanted to make presentation before the panel.
He listed some of the victims to include Raimi Olumide, Solomon Samuel Ageze, Olamilekan Sanusi, Ayodeji Beckley, Samuel Asala, Agbese Isiawu, Onileowo Legend, among others.
He said they would await further directive from the panel.
Former chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Adesina Ogunlana, counsel #EndSARS protesters, also aligned himself with the submission of other counsels.
Ogunlana said the development within the panel was not only embarrassing to the panel, but also to counsel.
Ogunlana claimed to have privileged information that there were plans to bring in thugs to disrupt the sittings of the panel.
He said his interest was in ensuring that the panel heard the truth about what transpired during the protest and at Lekki Toll gate.
He advised the panel to be proactive and to ask government to do the needful.
“Government cannot approbate and reprobate. This disconnect must be addressed immediately,” he said.
Ogunlana said he had no doubt about the competence of the panel.
The CBN had on Friday obtained a court order freezing the accounts of 20 #EndSARS promoters till January 2021.
The order was pursuant to a motion ex parte filed by the CBN before a Federal High Court.
The certified true copy of the order obtained by an online medium, Peoples Gazette, showed that the CBN had applied for the restriction of the 20 accounts on October 20, several days after it had already ordered commercial banks to freeze the accounts.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1384/2020 listed the defendants as Bolatito Oduala, Chima Ibebunjoh, Mary Kpengwa, Gatefield Nigeria Limited, Saadat Bibi, Bassey Israel, Wisdom Obi, Nicholas Osazele, Ebere Idibie, Akintomide Yusuf, Uhuo Promise, Mosopefoluwa Odeseye and Adegoke Emmanuel.
Others are Umoh Ekanem, Babatunde Segun, Mulu Teghenan, Mary Oshifowora, Winifred Jacob, Victor Solomon and Idunu Williams.
The banks where the accounts are domiciled include Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Fidelity Bank, First Bank, United Bank for Africa and Zenith Bank.
The lawyers representing the CBN were led by a former Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa (SAN).
Justice A.R. Mohammed ordered that the accounts should be frozen for the next 90 days subject to renewal.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) had, on Sunday, prevented one of such persons, Modupe Odele (aka Mochievous), from leaving the country and seized her passport.
The Rivers State medical coordinator of the #EndSARS protest, Bassey Israel, had also claimed that his account was frozen and threatened to sue the bank.
