Extra Judicial Killing: Families Of Late Chinedu Obi Who Died In Police Custody Demands Justice, Gives IGP 7Days Ultimatum To Unravel And Prosecute Killer Police Officer
Francis Tayor
Warri_____ The families of late Chinedu Obi who died on the 19th of July, 2019 in police custody at Ogun State, has demanded justice from the Inspector General of Nigeria Police Force, Abubakar Muhammed Adamu, of the circumstances led to the maltreatment and untimely death of the 26years old final year student of Physics in the University of Port Harcourt, River State.
The family, in a petition through their lawyer, Omemiroro Ogedegbe (Esq), in collaboration with Conference for the Actualization of Human Rights, (a Civil Society Organization) Give the Inspector General of Police 7days ultimatum to investigate and bring to book the erring police officer who killed Chinedu Obi at Sango Ota Police Station, Ogun State. With this, is to sanitize the Nigeria police force as a disciplined professional institution, as well as to serve as a deterrent to other serving police officers to always act on the safe side of the law.
It will be recalled that, the late Chinedu who hailed from Kwale, Delta State, is a talented musician, an undergraduate of Physics in Uniport. He went to visit his friend Adio Surdic at Ogun State in a bid to advance his musical career. On that fateful day 19th July, 2019, a case of Assault was levelled against him by a phone seller at Sango area Ota. He was arrested by the police and taken to Sango Police Station where he was shot dead in a mysterious circumstances begging for justice.
Speaking to the late Chinedu father, Mr. Benedict Obi " lamented that his son was never a criminal. He was a law abiding citizen and a final year student of Uniport and has never involved in any criminal matter in his life.I last saw my son in April, 2019 during my 30years marriage anniversary. Let justice, fair play take its course. I want the killer police man of my son to brought to book. It is then, l will let go this matter, the father stated."
However, according to the petition written by the lawyer on behalf of the family to the Inspector General of Police, in collaboration with the Conference for the Actualization of Human Rights group, jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Omemiroro Ogedegbe (ESQ), and the National Secretary, Comrade Ozobo Austin reads :
We have been contacted by the family of Late Chinedu Obi as represented by Gabriel Iluma, Efe Tutikpoma Fredrick and Mrs. Anita Okumagba.
It is our Brief that our clients have by a petition dated the 26th day of July 2019, from the office of Balogun & Balogun petitioned the Inspector General of Police to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of Chinedu Obi, who in a bid to advance his Musical Career travelled to visit his friend at Otta, Ogun State on the 19th July, 2019.
That while at Otta, Ogun State a case of Assault was leveled against him by a phone seller at Sango, Ogun State.
The deceased was arrested and taken to the police station without any form of restraint and in the process of interrogation he was alleged to be irrational by the police and was subsequently restrained by an handcuff by the police. Surprisingly while the handcuff was being put in the deceased hands he did not threaten to kill anyone within a short period of time, it was alleged by the police that the deceased became so irrational that the handcuff got removed and he picked up a long axe in the interrogation room in the presence of policemen and went outside the police station while still under handcuff and destroyed some vehicles. It was further alleged that the deceased after destroying dozen of vehicles was pursuing an armed policeman who eventually shot him.
As if that was not enough he was left on the ground within the police station wriggling in pain and bleeding for a long time without immediate medical attention. The video clip showed the last moment of the deceased while on the plain ground asking that he be allowed to speak to his father which was refused by the police neither was he taken to a hospital.
It is quite unfortunate and saddening that the police public relation officer, Ogun state Mr. Abimbola Opeyemi while commenting on the incident had stated that “He started chasing the officer, while armed with an axe and the officer shot him in the leg to demobilize him, he was immediately taken to the general hospital where he died” we ask “Demobilized with a lethal weapon”?
The officer with respect was far away from the truth and speaking from an informed position. The deceased was shot in the right buttock not the leg as alledged by the police and he was shot from behind. Could the policeman whom the deceased was pursing turn around to shoot him from behind? An attempt to cover up is insulting. It is akin to turn day light to darkness. Dancing on the grave of the deceased is not fair to the young man.
The deceased was taken to Ottah general hospital probably after he must have even died and not to Ife general Hospital as stated by the PPRO.
The question we seek redress are as follows:
Was he alleged of a capital offence?
Either yes or no, was he armed with a weapon of any kind.
Did he resist arrest? No
Even if he died will shooting the deceased the only option to get him restrained? No
At what point did he become so irrational that he was stripped to his boxers part as shown in the video clip which has gone viral?
The deceased was still hale and hearty when he was restrained with the handcuff. When he further behaved irrationally as alleged, what effort or steps was taken to either isolating him in a cell or put a leg chain?
At what point did the deceased remove the handcuff put behind him to go and pick an axe to destroy the vehicles and threatening people as alledged?
Where are the policemen that witnessed the irrational behavior of the deceased who still kept an axe in the picking up an axe?
If the deceased was pursuing an armed policeman as alleged, who and where is the policeman that shot the deceased and at what part of his body?
We state further that the statement credited to the Divisional Police Officer at Sango Police Station, Ogun State when the nephew of the deceased MADAM ANITA OKUMAGBA met with the DPO, on Sunday the 21st July, 2019 that a policeman “angrily shot” the deceased summed it all.
With due respect sir, there is no justification for the use of maximum force on the deceased to restrain him. The deceased was on handcuff for a much longer time and cautionary measure could have been adopted to further restrain even if he has mental imbalance as alleged. If the deceased behaved irrationally, the police that shot him was even more irrational in the given circumstance. This is a clear case of weapon abuse. It is our humble opinion that the policeman in question did not exhibit enough maturity and professionalism in his judgment before the trigger.
The life of Utagb – Ogbe, Ndokwa West Local Government, Delta State born undergraduate was cut short by the overzealous policeman. He was a final year student of the department of physics, University of Port Harcourt Choba, River State.
No doubt, since you took up the reign as Inspector General of Police, thing have changed for better with reform of the police force. The tempo should keep going and never should you allow any member of the police force to turn back the hands of the clock to the dark old days.
We urge to use your good office to set up a high powered and dispassionate investigation into this killing, and bring the culprit to book the delay in the investigation of this matter is most unfortunate.
We shall be compelled to institute an action without further notice if within seven days our demand for a thorough investigation of this matter is not complied with.
Signed:
OMEMIRORO OGEDEGBE, ESQ.
Comr Ozobo Austin
National Coordinator National Secretary
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