An army commander, Ahmed Taiwo who testified before the Lagos judicial panel on Saturday disclosed that only President Muhammadu Buhari can order the deployment of soldiers.
This disclosure was made by the army commander while being questioned by counsel to the Lagos state government, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN).
The army general said Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, does not have the power to order the deployment of soldiers.
He explained that the governor would have to seek permission from the president before the soldiers can be deployed.
“I know the governor spoke to the chief of army staff to the president before the deployment of the army. The governor made a request for intervention,” he said.
Recall that there have been questions on who ordered the deployment of the troops since the Lekki tollgate incident on October 20, 2020 where soldiers allegedly opened fire on peaceful protesters.
Reacting to the incident, Sanwo-Olu had attributed the incident to “forces beyond our direct control.”
