Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of the 81 Division, Military
Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island has said that he was unaware
that the Nigerian Army Headquarters had described the shootings at
the Lekki Tollgate as “fake news” on Twitter.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Taiwo made the
disclosure on Saturday while being cross-examined at the Lagos
State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for Restitution for Victims of SARS
Related Abuses and Other Matters.
![image](/2020/11/NWLR-1.jpg")
Responding to questions from Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN),
the counsel for some of the #EndSARS protesters, Taiwo said he was
unaware of the denial by the headquarters of the Nigerian Army
because he did not own a twitter account.
“Why did you tell lies, why did the army deny being at the
scene?” Olumide-Fusika queried.
Taiwo denied telling lies and said that the Nigerian Army made
the first statements because they did not have the full facts and
the army was not sent to Lekki to break up the protest.
“I have not seen the denial that the Nigerian Army on twitter
called their presence at the tollgate as fake news,”he said.
Following the General’s denial, Olumide-Fusika questioned him
further about the Army’s denials.
“There is controversy between you and our Governor, Babajide
Sanwo-Olu, when you (Army) denied saying that it was fake news and
the governor came out to say he saw some footage.
“Based on the Army’s tweets, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), the
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) said the people that went
to the tollgate must be hoodlums in army uniforms.
“Are you aware of the Army HQ handle on twitter? If you go to
your HQ’s verified twitter account right now the denial is still
there. I challenge you to go online now to see it.
“Are you not aware that information posted on the Nigerian Army
twitter handle on Oct. 21 still exists till this day, aren’t you an
intelligence officer?”the SAN queried.
Responding, Taiwo said Sanwo-Olu had made the assertion about
seeing some footage before the army made any verification.
“I’m not aware of what the AGF said, I’m not on twitter. I’m
speaking here as the most senior Army officer on ground and on
behalf of the 81 Division.
“I’m not aware of the Nigerian Army HQ twitter handle, I do not
follow it because I’m not on twitter,” he said. (NAN)
Brig.-Gen. Ahmed Taiwo, Commander of the 81 Division, Military
Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island has said that he was unaware
that the Nigerian Army Headquarters had described the shootings at
the Lekki Tollgate as “fake news” on Twitter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Taiwo made the
disclosure on Saturday while being cross-examined at the Lagos
State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for Restitution for Victims of SARS
Related Abuses and Other Matters.
Responding to questions from Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN),
the counsel for some of the #EndSARS protesters, Taiwo said he was
unaware of the denial by the headquarters of the Nigerian Army
because he did not own a twitter account.
“Why did you tell lies, why did the army deny being at the
scene?” Olumide-Fusika queried.
Taiwo denied telling lies and said that the Nigerian Army made
the first statements because they did not have the full facts and
the army was not sent to Lekki to break up the protest.
“I have not seen the denial that the Nigerian Army on twitter
called their presence at the tollgate as fake news,”he said.
Following the General’s denial, Olumide-Fusika questioned him
further about the Army’s denials.
“There is controversy between you and our Governor, Babajide
Sanwo-Olu, when you (Army) denied saying that it was fake news and
the governor came out to say he saw some footage.
“Based on the Army’s tweets, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), the
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) said the people that went
to the tollgate must be hoodlums in army uniforms.
“Are you aware of the Army HQ handle on twitter? If you go to
your HQ’s verified twitter account right now the denial is still
there. I challenge you to go online now to see it.
“Are you not aware that information posted on the Nigerian Army
twitter handle on Oct. 21 still exists till this day, aren’t you an
intelligence officer?”the SAN queried.
Responding, Taiwo said Sanwo-Olu had made the assertion about
seeing some footage before the army made any verification.
“I’m not aware of what the AGF said, I’m not on twitter. I’m
speaking here as the most senior Army officer on ground and on
behalf of the 81 Division.
“I’m not aware of the Nigerian Army HQ twitter handle, I do not
follow it because I’m not on twitter,” he said. (NAN)