Farotimi Lekki tollgate accusation sparks renewed debate as activist lawyer challenges Lai Mohammed’s claims on the 2020 incident

Activist lawyer Dele Farotimi has accused former Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, of giving what he described as false accounts regarding the events that occurred at the Lekki Tollgate during the 2020 EndSARS protests.

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Dele Farotimi made the allegation during an interview on the State Affairs podcast hosted by Edmund Obilo, reacting to recent comments by Lai Mohammed in which the former minister maintained that no fatalities occurred at the Lekki Tollgate incident.

Speaking during the programme, Dele Farotimi insisted that available testimonies and findings contradicted Lai Mohammed’s position, arguing that the incident had already been examined through an official judicial process.

The activist lawyer stated that his involvement in the EndSARS movement followed what he described as a massacre at the Lekki Tollgate, explaining that members of a political collective within the Nigerian Bar Association became engaged after survivors allegedly approached them for assistance.

Dele Farotimi said he personally supported victims by providing safe accommodation and covering medical and funeral expenses in certain cases.

He further alleged that the Lagos State Government paid compensation amounting to N100 million to injured protesters and relatives of deceased victims in two cash instalments.

According to Dele Farotimi, the alleged payments raised serious questions about official claims that no deaths were recorded during the incident.

The Farotimi Lekki tollgate accusation has consequently revived public debate surrounding accountability and transparency linked to the 2020 protests.

The lawyer also referenced the findings of the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry, which examined complaints of police brutality and the Lekki Tollgate shooting.

Dele Farotimi maintained that the panel reached a unanimous conclusion on the occurrence of fatalities, stressing that the outcome included participation from senior security officials.

Lai Mohammed has consistently rejected claims that protesters were killed at the tollgate, describing earlier reports of a massacre as misinformation during his tenure as government spokesperson.

The renewed exchange highlights lingering national divisions over the EndSARS protests, an event widely regarded as a defining moment in Nigeria’s recent democratic history and a powerful symbol of youth-led demands for police reform.

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As of the time of filing this report, no fresh official response had been issued by Lai Mohammed regarding Dele Farotimi’s latest remarks.