In what will come across as a rather dramatic development, the Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State Government to probe alleged police brutality and the Lekki shootings on Friday, was denied access into Military hospital, Ikoyi.
According to Daily Trust, the panel members left the Military hospital, Ikoyi without gaining access to the morgue.
The panel, which paid an unscheduled visit to the hospital, was initially denied access to the premises for more than 30 minutes.
During the drama that ensued at the gate, the chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (Retd.), had to retire to her car as other members of the panel continue discussion with military personnel.
A member of the panel, Mr. Ebun Adegboruwa, SAN, said the panel got an impromptu confidential information that facility at the hospital may be relevant to its investigation.
He said the panel is interested in visiting the morgue to assess bodies in the facility.
“We are exercising our mandate on behalf of the governor of Lagos State under the tribunal of inquiry laws.
“We have already inspected the Lekki toll gate today and we decided to pay an unscheduled visit to the mortuary of the Military Hospital because we have confidential information concerning certain events that took place in the hospital here.
“We are waiting for them to grant us access to inspect the mortuary because we have reasons to believe that that facility is relevant to our investigation,” he said
The panel came with a pathologist.
The panel left the facility after a brief discussion between a senior military officer and Justice Okuwobi (Retd). The officer refused to take question from newsmen.
Recall that security agents in military uniforms, were seen shooting at Lekki Toll gate plaza, one of the venues of #ENDSARS protest in the state.
There are allegations that some protesters were killed during the shooting and their bodies evacuated by the military. The Military has denied this allegation.
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