...Stresses It's Not In The Spirit Of Justice Keep Lekki Tollgate Shut Indefinitely
Godwin Akomah, Lagos
The convener of EndSARS campaign and member of the Lagos state judicial panel, Segun Awosanya, on Sunday declared that it is not in the “spirit of justice” for the Lekki tollgate gate to keep shut indefinitely after the panel’s forensic team had concluded their investigation at the site.
Segun started the EndSARS movement leading to widespread protest that shook the nation in October 2020. The protest was meant to be three days, but after three days, the feminist movement and others allegedly hijacked it, prompting him to pull out, alleging the purpose has been defeated following the feminist movement hijacking of it.
Also, Lekki Tollgate was shut and remained shut since October 20, 2020 after soldiers allegedly opened fire at #EndSARS protesters.
But Segun who is popularly known as Segalink, said there was no longer any need to make life harder for others just to prove a point, stressing that the EndSARS campaigners could always seek and ensure justice by other routes without becoming the "demons" they "fight."
According to him, "everyone is entitled to fairness, equity and presumption of innocence until proven guilty."
He made this known in a series of tweets on Sunday.
The Daily Crucible recalls that retired judge and chairperson of the panel, Doris Okuwobi, had in her Saturday ruling, asked the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to repossess the Lekki tollgate, while the insurers can commence assessment of the damage at the facility, renovate and resume its business.
Five members of the panel including Segalink supported the ruling for the retaking of the Lekki tollgate.
However, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa Adegboruwa, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), also a member of the panel, joined some members of the panel, particularly the youth representatives, to give a dissenting position on the ruling after its sitting.
Segun's backing of repossession of the tollgate sparked outrage on Twitter, as some Nigerians criticised Segalink for supporting the ruling.
One of the critics and a Twitter user, Williams, said: “Sega will soon write a thread filled with usual thesaurus abuse telling you why he voted to open Lekki Toll Gate.. My own is, every atrocity against #EndSARS protesters should be well documented.. Because Omo, we need to be brutal in writing out history, very brutal.”
But despite the criticisms, Segalink, stood his ground and gave reasons for his position.
“Those manipulating you presents you with someone to hate and you march on like zombies to throw tantrums. It is futile making logical sense when emotions are running wild. Where in the world do you deploy sentiments & injustice to obtain justice? Is the panel an opinion panel or a judicial panel? Have you taken out time to read the ruling? Did this nullify the cases? Is this the end?
“Those manipulating you presents you with someone to hate and you march on like zombies to throw tantrums. How does granting access for assessment of damage & initiating repairs a vote against the people when the panel’s forensic team are done at the site? Why lock it down?
“How many scientists do you find staying perpetually by the microscope without leaving to work on his findings? Recall that people work in the establishment too? We all use that road. Imaging locking the whole road under claims of an ongoing investigation without the need to visit
“There are always other routes to ensure justice without becoming the demons we fight. We need not make life harder for others just to prove a point. Everyone is entitled to fairness, equity & presumption of innocence until proven guilty. Investigation is done, cases are ongoing.
“Imagine shutting down police and Army in the name of an ongoing investigation. This to me is not in the spirit of justice. Read the ruling and if it errs on the ground of Law, Justice and Equity then we can look into that. Thus, far there’s no such claim," he stated on his official twitter account.
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