Okeke was lawyer who filed criminal complaints before Abuja Magistrate Court against Davido, Yemi Alade, Pastor Sam Adeyemi; Aisha Yesufu, Kanu Nwankwo, 45 others over alleged roles in the #EndSARS protests
Activist Kenechukwu Okeke has threatened to drag CNN staff to court over its independent investigation on the October 20 shooting incident at the Lekki Toll Gate.
CNN in its footage showed how soldiers shot at protesters and proved that some protesters were killed at the protest ground.
The global cable network also tracked the bullets shells found at the scene of the shooting which showed that they were purchased by the Nigerian government from Serbia in 2005.
CNN also interviewed a man identified as Elisha Sunday, whose brother, Victor, was killed during the October 20th shooting incident amid Federal Government’s claims of ”No casualties.”
However, activist Okeke in a Twitter thread on Wednesday said the investigation by CNN is an affront on Nigeria’s sovereignty and must be sanctioned.
He threatened to initiate a criminal contempt proceeding against CNN staff, adding that the investigation is an attempt to challenge the Lagos judicial panel.
According to him, CNN should have rather testified as a witness before the judicial panel.
His tweet read: “It is an affront or impingement on Nigeria’s sovereignty or judicial processes for the CNN to have investigated, concluded or pre-judged issues being litigated or debated before a tribunal established by law. This is intolerable, and there must be sanctions.
“I will, therefore, initiate criminal contempt proceedings against all the @CNN staff (without any exception) that deliberately and egregiously impugned the majesty of the courts or any tribunal established by law in Nigeria. Justice is too important to be decided by the media.
“CNN ought to have testified under oath as witness (es) before the tribunals to establish any such ‘investigations’. Otherwise is a deliberate act to impugn (egregiously) or preempt the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry. We will not have it though, as the courts are sacred.
“‘Without an exception’ herein includes any person(s) or actor(s) that improperly collaborated on substantive factual and legal issues on @Twitter (or any other social media platforms), outside of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiries (tribunals).”
Kenechukwu Okeke was the lawyer who filed criminal complaints before a Chief Magistrate’s court in Abuja against 50 persons for their alleged roles in the #EndSARS protests that took place last month.
Okeke, who describes himself on Twitter as “Human Rights Activist | Advocate | Master of Jurisprudence | Messenger of God | Eze Nri | Radical Defender of #HumanRights,” alleged that during the riot, his properties were destroyed and the defendants who promoted the #EndSARS protests must be brought to justice.
Those listed as defendants include Musician Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz; and social media comedians, Debo Adebayo aka Mr Macaroni, and Maryam Akpaokagi aka Taoma.
Other musicians sued include former PSquare (Peter and Paul Okoye), Innocent Idibia aka Tuface, Bankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W, Tiwa Savage, Michael Ajereh aka Don Jazzy and Yemi Alade.
Apart from musicians, others listed as defendants include Senior Pastor, Daystar Christian Centre, Pastor Sam Adeyemi; activist, Aisha Yesufu; ex-Super Eagles legend, Kanu Nwankwo; a former Director-General, Bureau for Public Sector Reform, Dr Joe Abah; journalist, Kiki Mordi, and actors, Yul Edochie and Uche Jombo.
Others are social media influencers – Feyikemi Abudu, Olorunrinu Oduala, Pamilerin Adegoke, Japhet Omojuwa, Ayo Sogunro and Deji Adeyanju were also joined in the suit.
The case was instituted on Monday pursuant to sections 88, 109(a), 110(1)(c) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.