A social media user, Princess Banke Oniru, has alleged that some coordinators of the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria distributed millions of naira among themselves. The protests, which drew global attention in late 2020, demanded the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) due to widespread allegations of extrajudicial killings, extortion, and torture.<\/p>\n
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During the protests, unarmed demonstrators waving Nigerian flags were allegedly killed at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos, following an invasion by soldiers and police officers in October 2020. The funding raised for the movement had previously faced scrutiny, with the Feminist Coalition (FEMCO) being questioned over the proper accounting of the funds.<\/p>\n
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On Sunday, new details emerged about how funds from the government were allegedly shared among the protest coordinators. Oniru claimed that initial funds offered by the Lagos State Government were rejected, but coordinators later distributed millions of naira. Oniru admitted she initially refused the money but later instructed her assistant to collect it from popular social commentator Sarah Ibrahim.<\/p>\n
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“The first funds Sarah called me to pick up was N1.5 million. The second was N1 million. I have proofs. Messages to back it up. The #EndSARS coordinators shared millions of money severally, going back and forth to pick a Ghana must-go filled with cash at Alausa Ikeja,” Oniru stated in a post on X. She added that she shared the funds she received as giveaways.<\/p>\n
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Sarah Ibrahim, in response, denied the allegations, stating that Oniru displayed “severe ingeniousness.” Ibrahim confirmed that the Lagos State Government offered her N100 million but insisted she never accepted it. She explained that after consulting her lawyers, she asked the government to use the funds to support the families of victims and those injured during the protests.<\/p>\n
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“So yes, I was reached by the Lagos State Government to offer N100 million,” Ibrahim wrote on X. “A meeting they were trying to have for months but I kept refusing because I was rightfully pissed at them.”<\/p>\n
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Ibrahim further explained that she eventually attended a meeting with Lagos State officials, who expressed regret over the Lekki Tollgate incident and offered the money as compensation. She initially refused but later changed her stance due to pleas from victims’ families.<\/p>\n
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“So speaking to Falana SAN, he then said if the govt is remorseful and wants to finally help those they shot and killed at the toll gate, let me not block it but allow it to happen,” she stated. However, she refused to personally collect the money, requesting instead that the government follow due process to compensate the victims.<\/p>\n
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Meanwhile, as of Monday morning, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s spokesman, Gboyega Akosile, had yet to respond to requests for comments regarding the alleged payments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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