Lekki shooting: CNN rejects Lagos Judicial panel’s invitation

The CNN, CABLE NEWS NETWORK INC. has objected to the request by the Lagos Judicial panel of inquiry and Restitution of victims of SARS related Abuses, for its team of reporters to appear before it on Saturday, December 12, to give evidence on their report of the #EndSars Lekki shooting.

Previously, the media house has carried out a detailed investigation into the October 20 gunshot incident at the Lekki tollgate and shared its findings in a two_part documentary release in November.

In regards to the reports, the media house alleged that the military actually did fire ammunition at the #EndSars protesters, an allegation the Federal government and the Nigeria Army have consistently denied.

During the ongoing panel of inquiry investigating the October 20 incident, the media house was invited to come and give evidence on the findings of its independent investigation.

READ MORE:JUST IN!! FG to sanction CNN for reporting Lekki massacre ― Lai Mohammed

In a letter written by its lawyers, Messrs.Olumide Babalola LP, the international news outfit said the Panel lacks jurisdiction to summon its staff since they are not in Nigeria. The media house filed the objection dated 4th December 2020 at the Tribunal on December 9, 2020.

This is the letter of objection:

“Since the Objectors are not “persons in Nigeria” as envisaged by the provision of section 5(c) (of Tribunals Of Inquiry Law Of Lagos State, Cap. T6), then this Honourable Tribunal is, with respect, bereft of territorial jurisdiction to compel their attendance to give evidence before it.”

To what Babalola said; he said that the panel had invited him into its private Hearing Room this morning and subsequently excused CNN from further proceedings or appearing before the panel.

The media house has already carried out clearly investigations and has presented that the Lekki tollgate shooting was carried out by the military who started fire ammunition.