Rival groups threaten protests over Lekki Toll Gate

The Lagos State Judicial Panel’s decision permitting the Lekki Concession Company (LCC) to repossess the Lekki Toll Gate caused a social media storm on Tuesday with two groups threatening counter-protests at the plaza.

Opponents of the panel’s decision, mainly youths, expressed their outrage on Twitter with the hashtag #OccupyLekkiTollGate.

They resolved to stage another protest at the tollgate to ensure that the tollgate remains shut until justice is served to the victims of the Lekki shooting.

The protest has been fixed for Saturday, February 13, 2021, from 7 am.

Their outrage was matched by that expressed by proponents of a counter social media campaign with the hashtag #DefendLagos and #DemNoBornDemPapaWell.

The promoters lamented that Lagos State witnessed massive destruction of public and private properties during the #EndSARS protests, warning that further protest that will lead to destruction will not be tolerated.

Last November Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the state will need about N1 trillion for the reconstruction and repair of the properties and infrastructure that were vandalised and destroyed by hoodlums.

The Nation reports that the Lekki tollgate has not been operational since October 2020.

The panel was set up in the wake of the near-nationwide protests against police brutality and the alleged shooting incident at the toll gate on October 20.

Protesters have submitted no fewer than 10 petitions to the panel alleging that men of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, shot at and killed several #EndSARS protesters at the toll gate last October 20, a claim the Army denied.

Last Saturday, five members of the nine-man panel chaired by Judge emeritus Doris Okuwobi voted in support of the reopening of the toll gate, while four others objected.

Those who objected were youth representatives Temitope Majekodunmi and Rinuola Oduola as well as Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and Patience Udoh, both representing the civil society.

Justice Okuwobi’s decision on the toll plaza followed LCC’s fourth application through its counsel, Rotimi Seriki, for the re-opening of the facility.

The company had been praying to the panel to allow it to take over the plaza for repair and insurance claims since December 2020.

Shortly after the ruling, proceedings at the panel degenerated to a shouting match when the four dissenting members were prevented from delivering their dissenting ruling.

They were vehemently opposed, firstly by LCC lawyer, Mr Rotimi Seriki and subsequently by Lagos State Counsel, Mr Olukayode Enitan.

Following appeals for calm by Ms Udoh, she and the Youth Reps were allowed to deliver their rulings, objecting to the majority decision.

Adegboruwa was not able to deliver his. (The Nation)