General
EndSARS: Human Rights Watch Calls for Action on Panel Recommendations
By Adedapo Adesanya
Human Rights Watch has called on Nigerian authorities to act on the #EndSARS panel recommendations and hold those responsible to account.
This call was made in a press statement on Monday in which the group accused the federal government of not making efforts to ensure justice for the killing of protesters in Lagos state in 2020, six months after a judicial panel implicated security forces in the abuses.
Speaking on this, Mr Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch said, “The report of the judicial panel of inquiry should not be swept under the rug without any consequences for those responsible for killing and injuring protesters.
“A failure to act on the panel’s recommendations will send a painful message to victims and risks encouraging more violence by security officers.”
For context, in October 2020, young people across Nigeria took to the streets calling for the disbandment of an abusive police unit known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and for an end to the brutality, in a movement using the hashtag #EndSARS.
Security forces responded with excessive force, including gunfire. One of the worst crackdowns was at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos on October 20, when army and police officers opened fire on a crowd of protesters, leaving people dead and wounded.
In response, the Lagos state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwolu, mandated a judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the incident and provide recommendations for justice and accountability.
The panel heard testimonies for a year from victims and representatives of the army, the police, and hospitals that treated victims. It was found in November 2021 that the security forces shot, injured, and killed unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, corroborating Human Rights Watch findings.
The panel also presented a list of at least 48 casualties, including nine dead, four missing and presumed dead, and 21 wounded by gunshots. The panel recommended appropriate disciplinary measures and dismissals of army officers implicated in the abuses. The panel also recommended prosecuting police officers implicated in the indiscriminate shooting and killing of protesters at the toll gate and prompt payment of the compensation that the panel awarded to victims.
The Nigerian police and military authorities have neither taken further steps to independently investigate nor responded to the panel’s findings and recommendations.
The federal government, which has oversight of these institutions, rejected the panel’s recommendations. The Lagos state governor, who called for the investigation and gave assurances that victims would get closure, has also been quiet on the issue of accountability.
Nigeria has a poor history with judicial panels of inquiries, whose recommendations have no force of law and are often dependent on the responsible authorities to carry out the recommendations.
A lack of political will on justice and accountability has meant that past judicial panels including those set up to investigate mass extrajudicial killings in other contexts made no progress toward ending impunity for security force abuses.
Adding her input, Mrs Serah Ibrahim, a coordinator of the EndSARS Survivors’ Group, made up of victims of the Lekki Toll Gate incident and their families, told Human Rights Watch that she and other members of the group including those who are managing serious injuries from the shooting are following up with the Lagos state government officials.
She said they want to see justice done and compensation paid but it appears futile because state government officials have told them it is not up to them to determine what happens next.
“They don’t want to fish out [identify] the people who shot at us and they also do not want to pay compensation for what happened because it will be an admission of guilt,” she said.
“Sometimes I just want to move on because pursuing justice in Nigeria seems pointless, but I can’t because I know what happened and the impact it has had on the lives of victims and their families,” Mrs Ibrahim added
Following the submission of the Lagos judicial panel report to Governor Sanwolu, he set up another committee to review the contents and come up with a white paper to chart the way forward. The white paper, released in November 2021, rejected the panel’s key findings, including the death toll of nine, stating that there were substantial inconsistencies and a lack of adequate evidence to back the claim.
But the Lagos state government said it fully or partially accepted all but one of the panel’s recommendations that relate to its own authority and indicated that it would forward other recommendations to the appropriate authorities, including the federal government, the Police Service Commission, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigerian Army.
The federal government through the Minister of Information, Mr Lai Mohammed, rejected the findings and recommendations of the panel though, and maintained the position it had taken since the incident occurred that reports of shooting and killing by security forces at the Lekki Toll Gate were “fake news.”
Justice and accountability should not be determined by the views of individual government ministers or officials but should rather be guaranteed for all Nigerians through independent systems and authorities mandated to investigate and act on allegations of abuses, Human Rights Watch said.
Within the Nigeria police force, there are several units including the X-Squad Unit of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) and the Provost Department, which are responsible for investigating offences by officers and recommending disciplinary actions and criminal prosecution where applicable. The Police Service Commission, which provides external oversight, also has the authority to investigate complaints and to mandate disciplinary actions, including dismissal, it added.
Similarly, the military police can investigate the actions of army officers implicated directly or indirectly in the abuses against protesters. An internal board of inquiry or regimental inquiry can also be set up to uncover the facts around their involvement and a court-martial process can be convened to discipline officers who engage in misconduct and ensure accountability,’ the group noted.
The executive secretary of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, told Human Rights Watch that it is because of the failure of the various internal systems for accountability to adequately do their jobs over the years that police and military officers have continued to act with impunity.
“Nigerian authorities have evaded their responsibilities to identify, discipline, and prosecute security officers involved in abuses.
“Unless this changes, violence by security forces against ordinary citizens will continue,” Mr Ewang added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has called for continued collaboration with law enforcement agencies to curb financial crimes, prevent loss of funds, and retain depositors’ confidence in the banking system.
The agency’s acting Managing Director, Mrs Emily Osuji, made this call at the 2025 capacity-building workshop for law enforcement agencies in Lagos themed Investigating and Prosecuting Financial Malpractices in Banks: A Critical Analysis of Strategies to Prevent Bank Failures on Monday.
Mrs Osuji stated that the NDIC had consistently held the workshop since 2012 to enable law enforcement stakeholders to sharpen their skills in the fight against financial malpractices in banks and other financial institutions.
According to her, the corporation, as a key participant in the financial safety-net, has over the years taken the fight against insider abuses and financial malpractices in banks very seriously.
Mrs Osuji emphasised that a safe and sound banking environment is an essential part of financial system stability and the bedrock for the economic development of every nation.
She explained the role of the NDIC, adding that the workshop also provided an opportunity for discussions to synergise efforts toward achieving the common goal of ensuring financial stability, noting that the theme was apt for ensuring collaboration against the menace of insider abuses and financial malpractices, which are major causes of bank failure capable of eroding public confidence in the banking system.
The NDIC chief noted that her organisation would continue to strive to enhance synergy in the area of law enforcement relating to the investigation and prosecution of financial malpractices.
She commended the progress recorded so far, saying, “Through your collaborative efforts, I am aware that 11 cases are currently being prosecuted at various courts, 25 investigations are ongoing with the FMIU, eight with the EFCC, and nine concluded investigations are with the Federal Ministry of Justice for advice and prosecution.
“This is an indication that we are on the right course,” she added, acknowledging the challenges of investigating and prosecuting financial malpractices and bank fraud cases and urged law enforcement officers not to relent but to adopt technology to stay ahead of criminals.
She noted that fraudsters and cybercriminals were constantly perfecting their skills, hence the need for such workshops to enable law enforcement officers to understand, accept, and adapt to the dynamic operating environment.
She praised the proactive efforts of the Regulatory/Supervisory Agencies to curb the activities of fraudsters to prevent loss of funds and maintain depositors’ confidence in the banking system.
On his part, the Director for Legal Department at NDIC, Mr Olusegun Kushimo, stated that the financial system must be strengthened and kept safe to achieve President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a trillion-dollar economy by 2030, saying the workshop was important to strategize, collaborate, and strengthen inter-agency relationships in the fight against financial fraud to keep the financial system safe.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Petralon Energy is on track to boost Nigerian crude production by a further 2,500 barrels per day, following drilling activities at the Dawes Island field.
According to a statement from the Africa Energy Chamber (AEC) on Monday, the company recently completed a new well at the field, aligning with plans to maximize output at the field. Operated by Petralon Energy subsidiary Petralon 54 Limited, the field is situated in Petroleum Prospecting License (PPL) 259.
The milestone comes as Petralon seeks to unlock greater value from Nigeria’s offshore oil resources.
The firm invested $25 million in the drilling program and development initiatives at the field between 2014 and 2022, officially securing a 100% stake in PPL 259 following the implementation of Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act in 2021.
The production milestone underscores the instrumental role indigenous operators play in Nigeria, with future drilling activities set to further consolidate Petralon’s position in the country’s upstream sector.
The AEC also disclosed that Petralon is a Platinum Partner of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference, taking place September 29 to October 3, 2025, in Cape Town.
Beyond PPL 259 and the Dawes Island field, Petralon is pursuing non-operated interests in Oil Mining License (OML) 127 and OML 130, seeking to unlock new resources and enhance revenue generation.
The company owns a stake in Prime Oil & Gas, which holds an 8 per cent interest in OML 127 and a 16 per cent stake in OML 130.
OML 127 features the Agbami field while OML 130 contains the Akpo, Egina and Preowei fields. Net production from the producing Akpo, Egina and Preowei fields averages 51,000 barrels per day. Both asses are situated in the deep offshore, showcasing gross 2P reserves of 270 million barrels and 638 million barrels, respectively.
Meanwhile, Petralon has also been strengthening its ownership stakes across the African upstream industry. The company holds an indirect equity interest in Prime Oil and Gas, which recently finalized its merger with Africa Oil Corp. Petralon has also emerged with a 4.24 per cent stake in the expanded entity. The transaction aligns with Petralon’s broader intentions to strengthen its presence in Africa.
The newly-expanded entity now operates a strong portfolio that includes deepwater assets in Nigeria alongside ventures in Namibia, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea. With the merger, the expanded entity benefits from a strengthened balance sheet as well as new opportunities for regional growth.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The former governor of Oyo State, Mr Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, is in line to become the new Olubadan of Ibadanland following the death of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
It was reported earlier that the former occupier of the throne, Oba Olakulehin, 90, joined his ancestors in the early hours of Monday, July 7, 2025, close to a year after becoming the traditional ruler of the ancient Nigerian city.
The late monarch, who was appointed by Governor Seyi Makinde in July 2024, replaced Oba Moshood Lekan Balogun, also known as Alli Okunmade II, who died in March 2024 following a brief illness.
According to tradition, the Olubadan throne alternates between two ruling lines: Egbe Agba (civil) and Balogun (military).
With the late Olakulehin ascending from the Balogun line, the next monarch is expected from the Egbe Agba line, where Mr Ladoja is currently the most senior High Chief.
Mr Ladoja, a former senator and governor of Oyo State between 2003 and 2007, has steadily climbed the traditional ladder over the years.
In September 2024, Mr Ladoja celebrated his 80th birthday, and in August 2024, he was crowned the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland.
This put an end to the controversy over his acceptance of the chieftaincy title.
With his exit from the role to become Olubadan, Mr Eddy Oyewole, will become the new Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, the highest ranked chief in the line.
Meanwhile, Mr Akin Alabi, a lawmaker and entrepreneur, will move from Jagun Olubadan (the entry point in the civil line) to Ajia Olubadan of Ibadanland.
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