Edo State Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday,
insisted that the Nigeria Police was shielding murder suspects involved
in last year’s killing of his late Principal Private Secretary, Mr.
Olaitan Oyerinde. Oshiomhole, who appeared before the House of Representatives
Committee on Public Petitions, which held an investigative hearing on
Oshiomhole’s allegations against the role of the Police in the murder case,
said it was embarrassing that two security agencies working under the same
government arrived at two conflicting conclusions on the case.
insisted that the Nigeria Police was shielding murder suspects involved
in last year’s killing of his late Principal Private Secretary, Mr.
Olaitan Oyerinde. Oshiomhole, who appeared before the House of Representatives
Committee on Public Petitions, which held an investigative hearing on
Oshiomhole’s allegations against the role of the Police in the murder case,
said it was embarrassing that two security agencies working under the same
government arrived at two conflicting conclusions on the case.
In his presentation, Edo State Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice, alleged that the gun that was used to kill Oyerinde,
was later traced to Esigie Police Station in Benin City.
Commissioner for Justice, alleged that the gun that was used to kill Oyerinde,
was later traced to Esigie Police Station in Benin City.
He said that since last year, the Edo State Police
Command had refused to produce the officer that the gun was issued to on
the ground that he was involved in an international assignment.
Command had refused to produce the officer that the gun was issued to on
the ground that he was involved in an international assignment.
Said he: “Since they had accepted that the chief suspect in
this case was in their custody, no other explanation presented to cover this
fact is acceptable.”
this case was in their custody, no other explanation presented to cover this
fact is acceptable.”
He stated that the Police violated laid down procedure
in criminal investigation by submitting the case file to the federal
Director of Public Prosecution instead of Edo State DPP.
in criminal investigation by submitting the case file to the federal
Director of Public Prosecution instead of Edo State DPP.
Mr. O. Olatigbe, a Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry
of Justice, who represented the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the
Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, admitted that the Ministry was in a dilemma as
to whether it should rely on the report of the Police or Department of
State Security, DSS.
of Justice, who represented the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the
Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, admitted that the Ministry was in a dilemma as
to whether it should rely on the report of the Police or Department of
State Security, DSS.
Olatigbe said that the ministry found itself in the dilemma
due to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force and DSS that investigated the
murder case submitted two conflicting reports and paraded two different sets of
suspects.
due to the fact that the Nigeria Police Force and DSS that investigated the
murder case submitted two conflicting reports and paraded two different sets of
suspects.
Another highpoint of the public hearing was the claim by DSS
and Police, that they had arrested self-confessed culprits, who took part in
the murder.
and Police, that they had arrested self-confessed culprits, who took part in
the murder.
In his submission, Director -General of DSS, Mr. Ita
Ekpenyong, gave a very detailed account of the organisation’s findings, adding
that his officers arrested one Lawal Abubakar, who was in possession of the
late Oyerinde’s phone. He also said another suspect named Abdullahi, also in
the custody of DSS, admitted shooting Olaitan to death although unintentionally.
Ekpenyong, gave a very detailed account of the organisation’s findings, adding
that his officers arrested one Lawal Abubakar, who was in possession of the
late Oyerinde’s phone. He also said another suspect named Abdullahi, also in
the custody of DSS, admitted shooting Olaitan to death although unintentionally.
Source: Vanguard
