Governor Babatunde Fashola on Monday set up and inaugurated a three-man Tribunal of Enquiry to investigate the clash between men of the Armed Forces and the driver of a Bus Rapid Transit scheme along Ikorodu Road in which a soldier lost his life and the subsequent arson and destruction of BRT buses.
Charging the Tribunal to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the action, the Governor, who spoke at the Conference Room of the Lagos House, Ikeja, added that it was deeply regrettable that the incident led to the loss of the life of a soldier and also led to the loss of properties in the aftermath.
He tasked the tribunal to inquire into whether the act was really committed by soldiers and if they did not, who did it. He also charged the tribunal to unravel how and why the military officer died and what killed him, as well as investigate what could have been done to avoid the accident.
He noted that saving life and protecting property is the basis for the existence of government.
He added that it would also be vital for the tribunal to provide answers into whether other people were behind the carnage because Lagosians and Nigerians were interested in the answers, just as he further stressed that if Nigerians know what really happened, it would help to maintain the reputation of the military as well as cultivate the trust for them.
Fashola, described the Nigerian Army as a symbol of strength that has helped in many conflict regions in Africa, their impact having been felt in areas like former Rhodesia Zimbabwe, Liberia and Sierra Leone among others. He regretted that at the home front, some members of the Army institution have diminished the institution’s reputation, recalling what happened during the Kalakuta Republic episode, the Area C Command and Police station in Barracks and most recently Miss Uzoma Okere’s case.
He said he recently followed an investigation by the British Royal Army against one of its soldiers in Afghanistan who was accused of shooting a wounded soldier in Afghanistan, the incident which, he said, underscored the sanctity which the British Army places on human life.
He insisted that a lower standard cannot be expected from the Nigerian Military in the course of the performance of its duties.
The Governor also buttressed his point with a post which he got on the internet recently about the exploits of the Nigeria Airways in the early 70s as the airline of choice that received requests from many airlines of countries like Kenya, South Africa, United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia to learn what made the airline tick then.
He stated that the end note today is that the Nigeria Airways has failed because the nation did not do the right things it was supposed to do, adding that many other items have also been listed by some to fail including the Nigerian nation.
He stated that Nigeria may prove the pundits right if it fails to do what is right, recalling that the ancient Rome failed; despite the fact that it gave the world the Canon Law, it ended up turning their back on the law.
The governor said he had received representation from the Army authorities over the incident as well as the bus owners and would also forward the contents of the representation to the tribunal as part of its investigations.
He expressed the optimism that the tribunal, which is headed by a retired Judge of the Lagos High Court, Mr. Justice Ebenezer Adebajo, would be able to conclude its assignment within the 60 days set aside for that job by the state government.
Other members of the tribunal are Mr. Nurudeen Ogbara and Mr. Jude Igbanoi, who are both legal practitioners while Ms Oluwadamilola Kesington is the Secretary.
Earlier in his introductory remarks, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, had noted that under Section 1(1) of the Tribunal of Enquiry Law, Cap, T6 of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003, the governor may, whenever he deems it necessary, constitute one or more persons by instrument under his hand a tribunal with authority to inquire into any matter in respect of which in his opinion an inquiry would be for the public welfare.
He also said the governor could, by the same instrument or by an order, appoint a Secretary to the Tribunal who would perform such duties as the members shall prescribe.
In his vote of assurance after the swearing in, Justice Adebajo said the members would do their best in arriving at a just and unbiased conclusion and would also work within the time frame given.
Among those in attendance at the event were the members of the State Executive Council including the Deputy Governor, Hon (Mrs) Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. (Mrs) Ranti Adebule, Commissioners for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Ademorin Kuye, Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Ibirogba, the Managing Director OF LAMATA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola and the Managing Director of LAGBUS, Mr. Babatunde Disu.
