Five years after the #EndSARS protests that shook Nigeria and sparked nationwide calls for police reform and accountability, legal experts are reflecting on the movement’s legacy — and the work still left undone.
Marking the fifth anniversary, prominent lawyers described the protests as a defining moment in Nigeria’s civic and democratic evolution. While acknowledging their role in awakening public consciousness, they lamented the government’s failure to implement meaningful reforms and deliver justice to victims.
Kunle Edun (SAN)
Former Welfare Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kunle Edun (SAN), described #EndSARS as “a dark page in Nigeria’s history,” symbolising official disregard for human life and the rule of law.
“The courts gave judgments awarding damages to victims, yet the government ignored them. Disrespect for judgments is an invitation to anarchy — not even a million soldiers can stop it,” he said.
Edun accused Attorneys-General and legislators of colluding with governors to disobey court orders, stressing that Nigeria currently operates under civilian rule, not true democracy. He urged the judiciary to enforce compliance with its orders and advocated for state policing to curb recurring abuses.
Deji Adeyanju
Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju blamed Nigeria’s “systemic culture of impunity” and executive interference for stalled #EndSARS accountability.
“Implementation of judicial panel recommendations depends on political will and budgetary approval, both of which are lacking,” he noted.
Adeyanju further explained that while ECOWAS Court rulings are binding, they lack coercive force, making compliance a matter of good faith and civil pressure.
Amanda Demechi-Asagba
NBA representative on the Lagos Judicial Panel, Amanda Demechi-Asagba, insisted that #EndSARS victims deserve real restitution — not rhetoric.
“The panels made clear findings, but implementation has stalled. Victims deserve justice, compensation, restitution, and not rhetoric,” she said.
She called on the government to show genuine commitment to reform, emphasizing that the police must be restructured to prioritise human rights and rebuild public trust. Failure to act, she warned, could reignite public anger.
Ayo Ademiluyi
Counsel to victims of the Lekki Toll Gate shooting, Ayo Ademiluyi, argued that accountability remains elusive as long as the same political class responsible for the tragedy still holds power.
“The Lagos Judicial Panel’s findings were nullified by a unilateral White Paper. No victim can get real justice under this political class because they enabled the injustice perpetrated five years ago,” he said.
Ademiluyi urged urgent reforms in police welfare and structure, noting that “nothing has changed in five years.”
“We must overhaul police working conditions and pensions. Only then can reforms be meaningful,” he added.
History and the Unfinished Business
Five years on, #EndSARS stands as both history and unfinished business. It is history because it changed Nigeria’s civic landscape — showing that citizens can rise in mass solidarity against injustice. Yet, it remains unfinished because justice, reform, and accountability — the very goals that drove thousands to the streets — are still largely unmet.
As the memory of October 2020 lingers, Nigeria’s legal community continues to demand one thing: that the cry for justice does not fade into silence.
