The Cable News Network Inc. (CNN) has filed an objection to the witness summons issued by the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry, for it to appear as a witness in the Lekki Shooting incident.
The panel had invited CNN following its two-part report on the Lekki shooting incident.
The report had claimed that Nigerian soldiers shot at and killed peaceful #EndSARS protesters on the night of October 20 at the Lekki toll gate, Lagos.
In the notice of objection, Olumide Babalola, the counsel to CNN, wrote to the panel that his clients are objecting to the summons on the ground that the panel lacks jurisdiction to summon them since they are not in Nigeria.
The objection letter reads, “Since the Objectors are not “persons in Nigeria” as envisaged by the provision of section 5(c) (of Tribunals Of Inquiry Law Of Lagos State, Cap. T6), then this Honourable Tribunal is, with respect, bereft of territorial jurisdiction to compel their attendance to give evidence before it.”
The panel has therefore excused CNN from further proceedings or appearing before it after a discussion with Babalola in its Private Hearing Room on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
