H huh along the Eti-Osa corridor, stressing that they were not for #EndSARS protesters.
At the beginning of Saturday’s session, the chairman of the judicial panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi, had called up the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to present the footage which captured the incident at the tollgate on October 20, to the watched by all parties, including the army.
Counsel to the #EndSARS victims, Adeshina Ogunlana, informed the panel that lawyers to all the parties present had agreed to watch the video from 5pm to 7:30pm of that day.
After they had finished viewing the footage, General Taiwo cross-examined by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika.
‘We Are Helpless’
Speaking about the initial denial of the army’s involvement in the shooting, the brigade commander noted that that was done because they did not have the facts of what transpired at the protest venue.
He explained that police stations had been sacked, policemen overrun, and there was already a breakdown of law and order, so the army had to step in.
General Taiwo stated that the army’s mission was not to clear protesters and they were on their way to carry out an exercise.
He claimed that when the army got to the Oriental Hotel in Lekki, some officers dismounted from their vehicles and were pelted and stoned.
According to the army representative, one Major Saheed got injured on the head and the exercise was led by two senior officers – Lieutenant Colonel S. O. Bello who is the Commanding Officer of 65 Division, and Brigadier General Francis Omata.
When asked by Adesina about the purpose of General Omata joining Lieutenant Colonel Bello at the operations, General Taiwo responded that it was operational.
The #EndSARS lawyer then proposed to show a video but the chairman of the judicial panel said it must be presented as evidence with a basis.
On his part, General Taiwo insisted that no one died in the Lekki shooting, except only those who fainted and they were revived.
He, however, agreed to a short clip in which someone said, “we are helpless” and showed another lying on the floor with blood.
Thereafter, Justice Okuwobi discharged General Taiwo from the panel.
Source: Channels TV.
