Human rights lawyer Dele Farotimi has strongly criticised former Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, over his comments on the 2020 incident at the Lekki Toll Gate.
Mohammed recently maintained that no lives were lost during the unrest linked to the EndSARS protests at the tollgate in Lagos.
Speaking on the State Affairs podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, Farotimi rejected that position and described the former minister’s remarks as false. He insisted that a violent crackdown took place, stressing that there was credible evidence to support that claim.
Farotimi explained that although he was not among the organisers of the EndSARS protests, he became involved after the incident. He said he is a member of the Radical Agenda Movement within the Nigerian Bar Association and that the group initially decided to boycott the judicial panel set up to investigate the matter.
According to him, some survivors later reached out for help, which led to further involvement by members of his group. He claimed he personally assisted victims by arranging safe accommodation, settling medical expenses and, in some cases, supporting funeral arrangements.
The lawyer further alleged that the Lagos State Government paid N100 million in two cash instalments to injured persons and families of the deceased. He questioned why compensation would be made if, as claimed by Mohammed, no one died.
Farotimi also referred to the findings of the judicial panel of inquiry, stating that its members reached a unanimous conclusion that a massacre occurred. He noted that a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police was part of the panel.
He maintained that the truth about the events at Lekki must not be denied and urged public officials to be honest in recounting what happened.
The former minister has yet to respond to the latest remarks.
