#ENDSARS: CNN SHUNS LAGOS JUDICIAL PANEL SUMMON AS SITTINGS CONTINUE ON SATURDAY
The Cable News Network (CNN) has failed to honour a summon by the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry and Restitution of Victims of SARS Related Abuses.
The panel had on November 28 summoned CNN reporters to give evidence on their reportage of the October 20, Lekki toll gate shootings.
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Upon service, CNN instructed its lawyers, Olumide Babalola to file an objection on the ground that the panel lacks jurisdiction to summon them since they are not a business with physical operation in Nigeria.
The CNN objection, dated December 4, was filed on December 9.
When the panel sat on Saturday, the CNN lawyer was queried privately and he reiterated his objection.
The panel then excused CNN from further proceedings.
Recall that the American based news television channel last month released an investigative report which confirmed that the Nigerian military fired live bullets at peaceful and unarmed #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza on October 20.
Sequel to this, the federal government had denied that its security operatives acted inappropriately at the toll gate and also described the CNN report as “one-dimensional and lacking in balance.”
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Lai Mohammed, Nigeria's Minister of Information and culture, during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, November 19, insisted that the military fired blank bullets into the air and not at protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza.
The Minister added that the International media organisation would be sanctioned.
Responding to the Minister, CNN defended its report, stating that it was based on testimonies from dozens of witnesses as well as photos and videos obtained and geolocated by the news agency.
"Our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched, and we stand by it," CNN said.
Read Also: NIGERIA ARMY FIRED LIVE BULLETS AT LEKKI TOLL GATE- CNN INVESTIGATION REVEALS
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