The freezing of the account of Oluwarinu Oduala by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has continued to generate ripples as a member of the Lagos State Judicial Panel on SARS and the Lekki Toll Gate Incident has accused the government of betraying the panel.
Oduala and Oluwasegun Majekodunmi are the two youth representatives on the panel.
They both absented themselves from the panel’s proceedings on Saturday to protest the freezing of Oduala’s bank account.
Recall that the CBN had on October 20 applied for a court order backing its decision to freeze the bank accounts of 20 #EndSARS promoters until January 2021.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the FHC sitting in Abuja granted the order, Channels TV reported Friday.
Oduala was one of the affected #EndSARS promoters.
Reacting to the freezing of the accounts, the panel member who sought anonymity queried how the government could be making a show of seeking peace on one hand and provoking the protesters on the other hand.
Chairman of the panel, Justice Doris Okuwobi (rtd) on Saturday adjourned the panel proceedings over the absence of the youth representatives.
“Most panel members feel a sense of betrayal by the government. Many of the members are sacrificing their time, reputations and even careers, for this assignment, so that peace can be restored.
“It is unfair on the side of the government to provoke the protesters. Having set up the various panels, the government should not be the one undermining the gallant efforts of the panel members.
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“In this regard, panel members view the freezing of the bank account of Miss Rachael Oduala (Rinu) as a direct affront on the integrity of the panel,” the panel member said.
The panel member said it was “the greatest act of provocation for the government to freeze their bank accounts, seize their travel documents or even arrest the #EndSARS protesters since they embraced dialogue by agreeing to serve on panels set up by the government.
“If this should continue, how will the panel get witnesses to come out openly to narrate their experiences? The government should set good examples and not carry on as if there is no law regulating human affairs. We expect the government to reach out to the youth protesters to resolve all issues with them. The panel cannot sit under the present circumstances.”