#Lekki EndSARS Shootings: Barracks Of Soldiers Who Killed Protesters Have Been Identified — Femi Falana, SAN

*Hoarding COVID-19 Palliatives, Crime Against Humanity
*Looting: Government Needs To Compensate Business Owners

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Human Rights Activist and the interim National Chairman, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 And Beyond, Mr. Femi Falana has stated that the barracks of the soldiers who opened fire at Lekki Toll Gate last Tuesday on #EndSARS protesters have been identified.

He stated this on Monday in an interview with Arise TV which was monitored by TheNigeriaLawyer.

“We have already identified the barracks where the soldiers left for Lekki, we have already identified the barracks”, he said without disclosing the details.

In addition, he stated that President Buhari must have been told that the military opened fire, hence why he did not address same.

“The President was likely to have been told soldiers were ordered so I want to believe that’s why it was not addressed. They said it was a rumour but I think the facts are emerging now, that indeed soldiers went to Lekki, indeed they fired at protesters and indeed some of the protesters at least two have been officially acknowledged to have died from gunshot wounds.”

Furthermore, he said the Federal Government’s high handedness shows it lacks respect for the rule of law.

“The Nigerian government has no respect for the rule of law and has ensured they stave off all forms of protests in the country.

“Every designated venue for protest in the country have been fenced by the government to prevent demonstrations.

“In Lagos, the Gani Fawehinmin Square has been fenced while the Unity Fountain in Abuja has also been fenced, and the same government has said citizens have the right to protest”, he said.

In another development, the learned silk condemned the hoarding of COVID-19 palliatives by some State Governments, stating that it can be likened to crime against humanity.

Also, he appealed that the palliatives yet to be distributed be given to the people swiftly.

“It is almost like a crime against humanity just as some public officers have diverted money meant for providing palliatives for internally displaced persons.

“I mean you ask yourself, what level of stealing is this? And so, this is why we are worried that the members of the ruling class in Nigeria will have to have a rethink that there are certain areas you must not get to in looting the treasuries of the country.

“Again, I want to appeal here for warehouses that have not been touched. If palliatives have been stored, I want to appeal to all the state governors in Nigeria to emulate the example of the Sokoto State governor that simply, in the view of this challenge, distributed the items.

“How can a government hoard indomie? It’s intolerable. It’s provocative. Our government will have to apologise to the Nigerian people.”

Furthermore, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria has sympathized with the families of those who had lost their lives.

In addition, he has made out a case for those who lost their properties to looting and vandalism , noting that the Government must compensate them.

“While I sympathise with those who have lost goods, while I sympathise with families that have lost their loved ones, we must make a case out of what has happened.

“I am talking about the development of our laws. Those who have lost goods, those who have lost properties that were not insured, should put sentiments apart, don’t say because the government in Abuja is our party, no, the law has left that stage.

“Every Nigerian is entitled to protection of his or her life and property. Once through negligence, through lack of proper policing, you lose your property, the government must pay. I am not talking about humanitarian assistance. As a matter of law, if anybody dies in the process, the family members have rights to make a claim and we have cases where this has been decided by our courts.

“So, let nobody in Abuja say these properties in Abuja were destroyed by hoodlums, it will never happen again. No; you have a duty to compensate those who have lost their properties, you have a duty to compensate those who have lost their breadwinners and potential breadwinners so that next time, the government will have to take measures to prevent this kind of unfortunate incidents”, he said .