Published 10th Sep, 2021

By Ibrahim Adeyemi

Joseph Funso, a UK-based forensic investigator, has presented evidence of arson and shooting at the October 20, 2020, Lekki Tollgate protest to the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution of Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.

On Friday, 11 months after the incident, the forensic expert and Managing Director, Sentinel Forensics Limited, appeared before the Lagos panel with the report of a forensic investigation.

Sentinel had received CCTV footage and other exhibits from Lekki Concession Company and the Nigerian Army, through the judicial panel, for forensic examination.

“(We were) to examine CCTV footage and give analysis on video footage to the panel, give an expert opinion on findings made at the scene of the protest on October 20, 2020, and give a full report on findings,” he said.

“We received from the tribunal items for evidence, which include: one Seagate external hard drive designated to contain CCTV footage of the 20th of October 2020, at the Lekki Tollgate plaza and one SMI USB drive designated to contain CCTV footage of the incident presented by the Nigerian Army.

“We also received two spent shell casings of bullets recovered at the scene, four ammunitions tendered as exhibits by the Nigerian Army, one blank expended ammunition, one blank unexpended ammunition, one live expended ammunition and one live unexpended ammunition.”

The expert also revealed that Sentinel visited the site of the incident at Lekki Tollgate to look for on-the-ground evidence.

“We also reviewed the items of evidence that were presented to us, and in line with our second and fifth mandates, under our terms of engagement, produced a comprehensive forensic report on our scene investigation and evidence review in hard copy and electronic presentation.”

“Thorough examination of the surrounding areas and edifice of admiralty plaza showed extensive signs of vandalism and arson.”

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