 Now six months after the alleged shooting took hold at the Lekki Togate, we ask how far have the demands of the NSAS protestors been fulfilled? And after two weeks of the court being on strike, governors pledged to implement judicial autonomy. Of lost politics, that's now by injustice, Akadori. On the 20th of October last year, soldiers allegedly opened fire on NSAS protestors at the Lekki Togate here in Lagos. Now the protest had started at the beginning of the month and had lasted until it abruptly ended with a shooting on the 20th. Although several government leaders have come out to state that there was no massacre, the videos of that night that circulated on social media say otherwise. Now a judicial panel of inquiry and restitution was later set up to investigate cases of brutality and human rights violations committed by operatives of the now-deserved Special Anti-Rubberist Court, SARS. Now six months after the alleged massacre, how far have the demands of the protestors been achieved? Joining us to discuss this is Bernard Oniga, a legal practitioner and some are dedicated a public affairs analyst. Good evening to you Mr. Oniga, let's start with you right now. It's been six months since the Lekki shooting of October 20th last year and some Nigerians are still leaving to tell the Saudi tale from that night. But from what we've seen so far, six months down the line, there are still cases of police brutality everywhere in Nigeria. We just hear stories on social media, how Nigerians are still being victimized and harassed by the Nigerian police. What have we failed to learn in the past six months? It's okay, thanks for having me in the show. It's been six months since the operation of the Lekki shooting of October 20th last year. It's important that the report has been shown that nothing seems to have changed from the time when the police were arrested by that protest and of the up until today. Myself, I have been a victim of police brutality and I've been a victim also in the period of six months even from when the answer process occurred. So what you're saying is not perfect. What it tells you is that we need a much more robust engagement. The protest was good, it was welcome, it was important and it was important. But what it tells you is that we may need to engage the police more. We may need to understand the mindset of the average police officer that makes him want to brutalize, want to harass, want to intimidate the average Nigerian as against the text Nigerian. And so there's another lack of the compensation to be really much understood. When we talk about police brutality, we are not fighting the Nigerian police. In fact, our officers and men in the Nigerian police are victims of a corrupt and irregular system. Time after time, after time, after time. That is why we have the kind of policing we have in Nigeria and that is why we have the kind of police officers we have in Nigeria. And to be not as much as we want you to check. Just hold that thought and begin to get involved. I think that may be the strategy. Thank you Bernard for your opening salvo. Let's bring in some Adelike right now into this conversation. Many thanks once again Mr Adelike for joining us on this particular discussion. Mr Barrister Bernadoniga says that Nigerians need to understand the mindset of the police men and that why they would just ordinarily want to harass the average Nigerian who they should otherwise be protected. But in the wake of all of this, judicial panels have been set up across Nigeria. Now, I'm sure you have monitored some of the proceedings. What hits you really in the past six months? In the past six months, the panels, interestingly, have not sat in all the states. The one in Nigeria's state is yet to sit over today. But of course, we've had citizens in Lagos and we've had some other states across the country. Now, what I've noticed is a pattern of delay. Part of the delay? Yes, delay of justice because the wheel of justice is apparently grinding very slowly. Now, Lagos has done some optics. They've awarded some victims, you see the 10 millionaire check. You've seen some 5 million, some 20 million. But the question that many protesters, many young Nigerians are asking, when will someone be held accountable? When will someone go on trial? When will someone within the Iraq unfile the police force? When will someone in government be held accountable? It's not just about trying money at people. It's not just about having these endless cities where there are places to see these and the police will say, oh, I'm coming, next minute you see, I'm not coming. And people are behaving as if this is not even a cut back panel. So we're looking for something concrete. We need the government to really hold itself accountable. Because, see, my learning colleague was talking about understanding the police. The police is being controlled by the executive. And these are the people we are trying to hold to account. The police are simply, what's the law called, obey the law for the zombies in court, without due respect. But they're almost all the people who control these levels of enforcement. That is all I'm talking about. Over the time, for the past six months, it's just been delay and the slow process of justice administration. We should be sped up actually. Thank you so much Sam Adeliki. Back to you now, Bernard Oniga. The public affairs analyst, as mentioned, some sort of delay or maybe miscarriage of justice. Now, but investigation of allegations of police misconduct and persecution of the indicted was one of the demands specifically made sometime last year. What gaps have you identified so far since all of the shootings have started across Nigeria? Well, I'm kind of the, I had this thing providing for bonus services for for indigent positioners at the Lagos panel. So I can speak automatically on what is happening. I am in no name and I am in no place at the Lagos panel. Whereas the members of the panel are doing very well. I give kudos to the chairman and the members of the panel. They are very diligent with their work and their commitment to duty. However, something called to question as to what is this supreme authority in Nigeria? Is it the person and the personality of the president or it is the constitution? Why am I within this? The emphasis in Indian Army precisely has been invited over and over again at the panel. If you did work on of the proceedings where I cross examine the right. Alongside a lot of my linear seniors. That was the only appearance we got. And we said that certain names have been mentioned. We want those persons to come before the panel and we want to put questions across to them. That is the essence of the panel of the employer. But those group of people and the leadership of the Nigerian Army have looked at us boldly in the face. And I've told us that our constitution means nothing to them. Because if the constitution means anything to the Nigerian Army. If indeed we are operating and running a democracy in spirit and in truth. What is happening would never be happening at the panel. Whereby the panel has issued some months over and over again. So there are a lot of gaps. I can assure you on the part of the police too. There are some cases that the police will tell you oh we cannot find where the police officer is currently posted to. Oh we don't know how can the police boldly say that we don't know where an officer is posted to. To be invited to the panel. So we see that the institution of government, they are weak. And the people who manage decisions are even weaker. And so that is one of the problems we have seen. They don't understand democracy. They don't understand the constitution. They don't respect judicial authority. They don't respect judicial power. And they don't even know what it means. So these are the gaps you know. And that's why if you observe what is happening at the Lagos panel. I'm very sure the chairman and members are not going ahead. Giving compensation to those who still deserve compensation. And that is the best they can do. Where do you see the legal compensation to do? Okay Barista Oniga let me just butt in right now. When you say they give compensation to those they feel they should give to. Would you say they have been rational in all of their dealings? And do you think restitution has been given to Nigerians who were affected in one way or the other? No, no, no. I do not think the competition is sufficient. We are talking about the fact that we want to identify police officers who have been involved in acts of brutality, acts of intimidation and acts of threat. You know we want to identify them. We want to know their names. You need to come to the panel to hear the kind of gory stories people have to tell about their experiences in police cell. And in staff cells. You will leave. So we are saying that those names have been mentioned. They need to appear. We want to hear from them. We want to give them stay here in a right that is their right. They are against them and wrong. And then it is left for the panel to decide. But right now the Nigerian police is shielding these officers. The Nigerian army is shielding these officers until we cannot get justice with such a situation. So the competition is not enough. Alright thank you so much. We are saying that our children should not go through the same experiences we are going through. Alright. And people should be held to account. Thank you so much Barista Oniga. Back to you Sam Delekin now. One of the men's are made by the NSAS protesters was an increase in the salaries of police officers. Partly linking their endless extortion of citizens corruption and viciousness to their poor renumeration, training and welfare. We have a new man now at the hems of affairs Osman Baba looking at what we have seen so far. And so far his body language. Do you really think some of these issues are going to be addressed and will see a change in policing in Nigeria? Unfortunately nothing will be done. How so? This man does not convey any sense of any sense of reform. He comes across as a cheap off the old block. He doesn't look or sound or even his antecedents. He's just someone that of course when grew through the ranks and even pundits just say that in the course of his emergence some highly qualified seniors are to be retired. You know just because they want sort of not an extraction to remain there. So it appears he's simply just feeling the position because the part that we want him to feel it. But we cannot give up on ensuring that this man will currently hold the level of leadership in the police force. I really hope it disappoints me because what we do believe many of us in the public sphere believe that change in the police can only come from outside. And just like you have the Nigeria Custom Service, right? Whoever you brought an external retired general to enforce and to make some changes in the force. We believe that change can only come into the police force when someone is brought from outside because there's no way you will go through the ranks and follow the police force. You know, start from the cadets or the constable and go through that space and they get to the top most level and still be able to effect change. So we believe that I don't want to be pessimistic, but I don't expect much from this man. I really should support him by ensuring that the salaries are increased and also the welfare countries are increased and ensure that the barracks are increased. And even the salary, the compensation, the benefits, you know, because this would be to be treated as humans dignity in labor. The way they dress, their skin, they should be able to do so. I do think that he takes this to conservation and just while he's obeying his master's national issue, that is the legacy. I'm sure that the police force is better under him. Thank you so much, Sam Adeleke. We'll continue with the conversation, but just for the purpose or sake of fairness, let me just read out some of what he has said. That's the new IGP Usman Mabaha said he intends or he will do in the coming days in Monter. He has actually ordered that dismantling of police roadblocks withdrawal of operatives attached to private citizens in the country. And he's released 12 point agenda. Like I said, one immediate dismantling of roadblocks across the federation. He's asked for the immediate withdrawal of officers attached to private citizens. Deduction of courts awarded damages from the salary of any officer found to have abused human rights. The fourth one immediate recruitment of 1,500 lawyers with litigation experience to be attached to each police division and area commends. They are to give legal favor to investigations, provide legal advice and serve as police prosecutors. The fifth one now procurement and installment of video recording facilities in all investigation rooms of the force. A building of new laboratories in 36 states and the FCT to analyze the DNA, fingerprints, blood samples, blood fluids and so on. All right, it goes for that to state that any interstate transfer of officers to be affected with the provision of transport and accommodation allowance. Provision of two pairs of uniform and boots for role personnel annually increased allocation rates directly to age police division to run its operation. Back to you now, Bernard Oniga, you are a legal practitioner. So far from all that he has ruled out, are we expecting some sort of change in the nearest future? I must tell you the truth that if the IGP has the moral will and the courage and has the good of our nation at heart and implement this agenda he has stated. Even though I have issues with some of them, but as it is, without the issues I have to raise, if they are implemented, I will tell you the truth. We will have it adjusted by the way, and we'll have it better for this force. All right, you said you have your reservations, can you hear them? Nigerian police officers buy their uniforms and buy their boots and buy their belt. Can I amaze you? They buy their bullet. I am not telling you what I do not know. I am involved in activism and I engage the police officers, they buy bullets. If you want an investigation carried out and I'm supposed to do that, the police will ask you for money for bullets. And I will ask them, where do you go to buy these bullets? So there is a black market where bullets are sold and our police officers patronize that black market. I am not telling you what Nigerians don't know. All right. So I wish the IGP the best and I want to encourage them to go ahead and implement this agenda the way he has stated them. Ankayo, the leadership is everything. Everything rises and falls on leadership. When the GPO comes on Monday morning and is not expecting brown envelope over the weekend, then the police officer on the weekend will take it easy the way he treats me. He will respect my right. He will not abuse it or have to extort money to get the GPO on Monday morning. Yes. When police officers stop expecting brown envelopes, if it goes at leadership level, our policing will change. I have worked in the public service, changing it is very painful. Then the leadership is serious. But then again, he is going to engage the services of legal practitioners just how far would that particular opposition go in reforming the Nigerian police? Hey, look how you do. Did you get a question? Let me repeat. From the 11 point or 12 point agenda that he has raised that he is going to engage the services of legal practitioners. Bringing the law into the police. Do you think we will see some changes really in the police system going forward? Yes, we will see some changes provided qualified legal practitioners, qualified in respect to practice experience. So that we will not do mamadu. Who do you know? By the time we are sure that those who have practice experience in this area are engaged and not the children of politicians and the children of the privileged. Those who have personal experience, the 1005 of the lawyers who will be engaged, as the IGP has said, will push policing in Nigeria. But let me also tell you what the IGP should first do, first and foremost, is to promote the lawyers that are not yet that have been wallowing at the same level in the police below their rank all these years. We have a lot of lawyers who have not been given their due. So if the first and foremost promote those ones, give them the rank that is relevant to them and engage 1,500 publicly qualified lawyers. Oh, Kaya, the glory days of the Nigerian police will be beginning. Thank you. I don't know why you keep on calling me Kaya. My name is actually Justin, just to mention. Thank you so much. All right, let me get back to Sam Adeleke. In the wake of all of this, the United States released a report and said there's no evidence to back up the fact that 10 people were killed as reported by Amnesty International. What could we be missing in all of this narrative? I think the United States do not want to upset the apostates. And I think they're trying to be very calm, they're diplomacy, because it's not affecting their interests in any way. We all saw the CNN reports. We also did BBC reports. These were independent reports by international journalists, written reports and also video reports that captured events of October 20. So when the United States report came out, of course, that point was written by one consular officer in Abuja and just put it together and sent it. And I streamed that shooting live. I was watching it from my house. I had been at the site a few days earlier and just by some means of it, I was not there that day. I was watching the posters and then you are telling me that this did not happen. So when you look at things like this and then the days and weeks that followed were all protesting and saying ban, forced visa restrictions on Nigerian officials and all that, was still our dear president. Went to the UK for some days or for some weeks for medical checkup without any restrictions as he came back. So it shows that we are in our home. Right now we can't bank on the reports or the support of United States or even the United Kingdom because of course there was even a brief parliamentarian debate whereby there was an off and popular. Right. About all this. But it doesn't hold water. So let the US decide to issue the report we want to issue. But the truth is the truth. The facts can be altered. Evidence can be altered. But the truth of what happened on October 2020 cannot be altered. All right, thank you so much. Those are my thoughts. Indeed, we must say a very big thank you to our analysts. That's as much as we have time for on this particular segment of the program. We have been speaking with them. Barista, Bernard and Oniga. And of course some are delicate public affairs analysts. Thank you so much. Thank you very much, gentlemen. Thank you for having me. All right. Thank you for staying with us. We'll take a short break. And when we return, the governors have announced that they will begin to implement judicial autonomy. We'll be right back to discuss more.