The lawyers representing the Lagos State Government, the Lekki Concession Company, LCC and the Police on Saturday asked the panel to strike out the testimony of a coordinator of the #EndSARS protests, Serah Ibrahim following her failure to show up for her cross-examination at the Lagos State judicial panel on restitution for victims of SARS-related abuses and other matters.
They premised their application on her continued absence at the proceedings of the panel.
Serah, who described herself as a professional auditor during her testimony, said she was at the protest ground every day and in fact helped in coordinating activities.
Led by her lawyer, Yinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), she had narrated how the Nigerian Army and subsequently the police shot at protesters at the Lekki toll gate on the night of October 20, 2020.
She testified that at least 10 persons were killed.
During her appearance at the panel on May 8, Serah came along with several videos, some of which she said she shot personally with her iPhone.
One after the other, she played the videos which according to her demonstrates that soldiers shot at peaceful protesters on the night of October 20.
As she played the videos, she explained to the panel that soldiers shot at the harmless protesters and even took away some of the dead bodies.
But in his application to strike out her testimony on Saturday, Counsel to the Lagos State Government, Olukayode Enitan (SAN) told the panel that the witness has been evading cross-examination after making “scandalous and outrageous claims.”
He reminded the panel that this is about the 4th court sitting that the witness had failed to turn up for and having failed to present herself for cross-examination, she should be deemed to have abandoned the cause.
The Senior Advocate’s application was supported by Counsel to the LLC, Rotimi Seriki and Counsel to the Police, Joseph Eboseremen.
The Chairman of the Panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi who adjourned the proceedings till September 11, said members would consider the application and take a decision which would be communicated later.
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