Families Of Drivers Murdered By Policemen Petition Osinbajo

The families of two drivers, who were allegedly murdered by the police in Lagos State, have sent a petition to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, accusing the Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation of perverting the course of justice.

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The slain drivers, who worked for Multiple Covenant Investment Limited, were on a motorcycle along the LASU-Igando Expressway and heading to work when they were gunned down.

The shooter was later identified as Inspector Niyi Oladapo, who made a confessional statement at the Igando Police Division, where he was attached to.

Following a petition to the then Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, the alleged killer policeman faced an orderly room trial and was subsequently dismissed by the police and detained.

The Lagos State Ministry of Justice, headed by Mr Ade Ipaye (now Osinbajo’s Chief of Staff) instituted a criminal action against Oladapo at the High Court of Lagos State vide Charge No. LCD/184/2012, in September 2012 in view of the overwhelming evidence, including the policeman’s handwritten confessional statement.

However, when the criminal matter came up before Justice Aishat Opesanwo of the High Court of Lagos State, the accused was not present in court.

It was later revealed that he had escaped from the custody of the police provost.

The case was subsequently adjourned indefinitely.

Determined to get justice for the slain drivers, the families’ lawyer, Abayomi Sadiku, filed a civil suit against the police demanding monetary compensation for their respective families.R

However, in a ruling delivered on February 20, 2013, the trial judge, Justice Iyabo Kasali, refused the application and summarily dismissed the same for being criminal in nature.

The matter was taken before the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, and in a landmark decision delivered by Justice Amina Augie (now Justice of the Supreme Court), the ruling of the lower court was set aside and the application was remitted back to the lower court for hearing by another judge.

Consequent upon the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the application was held de novo by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the High Court of Lagos State, and on May 3, 2016, the judge ordered the police to pay the family of the slain drivers N200.5m.

On August 31, 2016, the family sought by way of garnishee proceedings to enforce the payment of the judgment debt, which remained wholly unpaid to the judgment creditors.

However, the court ruled that the consent of the Attorney General of the Federation was necessary before the money could be paid.

In the petition signed by Sadiku on behalf of the families, it was alleged that rather than expedite action, the AGF had continue to delay his approval, explaining that he had written to the IG for his comment on the matter.

Sadiku said in the process of waiting, the father of Sikiru Amusa, one of the slain drivers, died of prostate cancer.

Describing the incident as double tragedy for the family, Sadiku said had the funds been released on time, the father might have survived the disease.

The petition read in part, “Your Excellency, to our chagrin, the AGF failed our clients. Quite unfortunately, the AGF, in his November 9, 2017, response to our application, informed us that he had sought the comment of the Nigeria Police Force and was awaiting their response.

“We also informed him (AGF) about the failing health of some of the judgment creditors and the likelihood of death if he did not grant his consent expeditiously. Sadly, the AGF did nothing till the third applicant/judgment creditor died on March 3, 2018.