EndSARS: NGO Urge Lagos Panel To Summon Promoters Of Fake News

Vendor Positive Change Initiative has urged the Lagos State Judicial Panel on EndSARS protest to summon all those who promoted fake news during the protest.

 

News Rain Nigeria gathered in a petition signed by Gbolahan Bakare, the group’s South-West Coordinator, and submitted to the panel on Friday, the NGO said the invitation was necessary as the spread of fake news fuelled the civil disturbances that followed the protest.

According to the petition, the uprising threatened peace as many lives were lost and property destroyed. It said those who promoted fake news during the protest should be invited to justify the veracity of the information they spread during the uprising.

EndSARS: NGO Urge Lagos Panel To Summon Promoters Of Fake News

The petition read: “We request that your panel extend an invitation to all persons and organizations who promoted fake news and falsehood in relation to the alleged and unsubstantiated killing of #EndSARS protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos State.

“This petition is submitted in pursuant to our rights as enshrined in Section 36 (2A) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“Which provides for an opportunity for the persons whose rights and obligations may be affected to make representations to the administering authority before that authority makes the decision.

 

“It is our considered opinion that the activities of fake news promoters regarding the Lekki incident put to risk the stability of the Nigerian nation and specifically threaten our collective security as citizens.

“We, therefore, seek that your panel promotes fairness in this matter by extending an invitation to all those who have made varying degrees of inciting claims regarding what transpired at the Lekki toll gate on Tuesday, 20th October 2020.

 

“This must include those who claim blank bullets were used to physically appear before your committee to substantiate all they have said or claimed.

“This, we believe, will help your panel to unravel the truth and deliver justice to all concerned.”

It will be recalled that the Lagos State Government set up to probe brutality and high-handedness of the disbanded special anti-robbery squad (SARS) visited the Lekki tollgate on Friday.

 

It is gathered that Doris Okuwobi, Chairperson of the panel, led her team to the scene of the shooting, which attracted global attention. Yomi Omomuwansa, managing director, Lekki Concession Company (LCC), took the panel on an inspection tour.