Thread by @SeyitanAtigarin

It’s 10:00 am - November 24th marks the 12th sitting of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry. Court is barely full and panel is not here yet. #ENDSARS

All set and ready to go @ARISEtv - The Court registrar has just informed me that, the focus of today’s hearing will be on the petitioners. #ENDSARS

Here’s a list of today’s expected petitioners. #EndSARS

11:31 am - Panel still not here, they have just sent word that the reason for delay is because they are waiting for the police legal counsel to arrive. #EndSARS

12:14 - Police legal counsel finally arrive. #EndSARS

12:15 pm the bag is out now - if you know, you know #ENDSARS

12:17pm the panel is here, first petitioner Mr. Okoliagu Abunike is called forward, Legal counsel from the Police, Lagos state and Nigerian Bar Association introduce themselves. Let the cross examination begin #ENDSARS

Eze: You told the court two of your teeth were extracted by the police
Ike: (opens mouth to reveal removed teeth)
Eze: Did you go to the hospital to have it checked?
Ike: Yes I did.
Eze: Can we see the medical reports
Ike: I don’t have it here with me
#ENDSARS

Eze: I would like for the panel to inspect his teeth.

Panel looks shocked, Justice Okuwobi quickly responds, “I am not a dentist”

Mr. Ike’s legal counsel objects to Mr. Eze’s line of questioning, considers it leading and won’t stand for it.. #ENDSARS

A judgement had been given at the Federal High Court in the case of Mr. Ike as far back as 2016. Mr. Eze admits the ruling into evidence and continues with his cross examination..
#ENDSARS

Eze: If there has been a judgment why did you bring this case before this panel?
Ike: An appeal led to the judgement being knocked out based on technicalities, was given based on the forceful seizure of my products but not on the police brutality meted towards me #ENDSARS

Eze: You are aware that the police did not sell your property
Ike: That’s not true
Eze: Your mother and wife took your property to your former boss who sold it
Ike: THAT’S NOT TRUE, WHO BEAT UP MY MOTHER AND WIFE UP THEN? - He’s angry now 🥺🥺
#ENDSARS

Eze: You know lying under oath is punishable by imprisonment
Ike: I have never misled the court
Eze: Are you sure?
Ike: I have never misled the court, ahhh
Eze: I rest my case, my Lord

Petitioner’s counsel is ready to go now #ENDSARS

But not before Mr. Eze requests a witness summons to have Mr. Abunike’s former boss a Mr. Cletus Ogbu to come to court to testify. “We need to get the bottom of this and see who is telling saying the truth here my Lord” - #ENDSARS

Mr. Gazali legal counsel for the petitioner, requests for the witness Mr. Ike to make a final statement even though he has rested his case. Mr. Eze objects, his reason being that the witness might want to change his story on the stand. Justice Okuwobi grants the request #ENDSARS

So according to Mr. Abunike, one of the legal counsel for the police, a Mr. Eboserenren has a separate case where he had slapped the witness Mr. Ike FOUR TIMES!! This is what he had to say in his defense, should he recuse himself? #ENDSARS

Now that’s done, it’s time for the 2nd petitioner Mr Olukoya Ogungbeje. Gazali: He’s not present, he’s in Ilesha,can I adopt the petition on his behalf?
Mr. E: Objection! We apply that the petition be stuck out,he has to be here under oath for his testimony to be taken #ENDSARS

Mr G: Section 1C of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry rules and procedures allows for that My Lord. In light of this I would like to urge the panel to discount the objections and place reliance on the aforementioned section to make there decision
The panel: #ENDSARS

No cross examination happening in the casein Mr. Olukoya, it has been adjourned to the 4th of December.

Next stop is the 3rd petitioner, Mr. Basil Chetal Ejiagwa also being represented by Mr. Gazali. Unfortunately he’s also not in court because he has passed away.

#ENDSARS

Mr. G credits his death to the torture he suffered in the hands of SARS officials. He is being represented by a family member who has his death certificate, other hospitals records and is ready to testify on his behalf #ENDSARS

Mr. E objects stating that, it can’t be proven that his death was directly caused by the torture as it took place a while ago. Justice Okuwobi agrees and strikes out the statement. The witness is a Mr Chukwu Vincent, cousin to the deceased. Cross examination begins #ENDSARS

Gazali: What happened to Mr. Basil
Vin: He was arrested in 2014 on his way back from work, taken to Igando Police station where he was jailed for 5 days then, transferred to Ikeja where he remained for another 9 days.
Gazali: What happened to him while in custody?... #ENDSARS

Vin: We noticed gashes on his head from where he claimed to have been beaten by police with their guns. We took him to the hospital where we were told he had a brain tumor due to his injuries. As time went by, it got worse as he began to lose his memory #ENDSARS

Gazali: How long was your cousin Mr. Basil bedridden for before he passed
Vin: Five to Six years
Gazali: What do you want this court to do for you?
Vin: I want the panel to help us uphold the judgment sum awarded to us, it was delivered on April 16, 2019. #ENDSARS

The deceased, Mr. Basil Chetal Ejiagwa the petitioner in this case passed away on the 17th of November, 2020. #ENDSARS

Police legal counsel comes in
Mr E: Were you with he was arrested detained and released?
Vin: No
Mr E: Are you a medical doctor?
Vin: No
Mr E: Do you live with him?
Vin: No
Mr E: Everything you know you were told by the deceased
Vin: Yes sir
Mr E: You’re a truthful man

This case has also been adjourned to the 4th of December 2020. Mr. Chukwu Vincent steps downs from the witness box. The panel calls for a recess #EndSARS

At exactly 4PM the panel makes it way back into the courtroom ready to take on the final case for today. #ENDSARS

The last petitioner Mr. Francis EniIdum who is represented by his brother Mr. Sunday can’t be taken today as he has no legal counsel, the Nigerian Bar Association has offered to take it on PRO BONO and needs time to go through case details for better representation #ENDSARS

This case has also been adjourned to the 4th of December, 2020.

4:22 PM - The 12th sitting of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry has come to an end. #EndSARS