Family of slain trader
challenges police to prove innocence
By OBIDIKE JERRY
Thursday, May
8 , 2008
The family of the late Chinedu Nwakaeze, the trader who was
allegedly shot dead by a mobile policeman during a prayer
session at the Balogun section of Trade Fair Complex market,
Lagos, has challenged the Nigeria police to prove its innocence
by conducting an autopsy on the deceased and making the result
public.
According to the family, which spoke through their lawyers,
Festus Keyamo and Austin Nwabufoh, the body of the victim
had been in the mortuary for more than one month after the
ugly incident.
They said they believed strongly that the police have something
to hide, hence their refusal to perform autopsy on the deceased.
“Our clients have requested the autopsy report from
the police, but they have refused to produce it. Why have
the police refused to produce the autopsy report? Is it because
the report will clearly show that the bullet that killed Mr.
Chinedu was from a police AK47 riffle?”, they queried.
They described as worrisome, the failure of the police to
charge the suspects to court more than one month after their
arrest.
The family said: “Why would the police refuse to charge
these detained men to court? After all, if the police were
convinced they have a case to answer, why not charge them
to court?”
Members of the family insisted that the victim’s death
was caused by the police. The family said: “We have
found ourselves in this unpalatable situation because the
police played a divisive role, apparently, because of some
benefits. Why, for instance, would the police execute an order
of court that was being challenged? What is even more curious
is that the order, the police carried out, without the involvement
of the deputy Sheriff of the court.
Mr. Ikechukwu Nwakeze, who also spoke to newsmen, accused
the police of being responsible for the death of his brother.
He said: “On 9th February, 2008, the Anambra State Governor,
Mr. Peter Obi, came to Balogun Business Association market.
He called me on phone that he wanted to see me for a brief
discussion. I don’t know who gave my number to him.
I went home and met him at the government lodge, Awka. He
told me to go and carry my brother’s corpse for burial.
I told him that before I do that, I must know the cause of
my brother’s death, because in Igboland, it is a taboo
to bury somebody without knowing the cause of his death.
The governor promised he will withdraw the case from court
and ‘settle us’ after consulting with the Inspector
General of Police and the Attorney General of Federation.
I made it clear to him that the autopsy must be carried out
and the policeman that killed my brother must confess otherwise,
if I eat or drink with the policeman, I will die.”
Mr. Ikechukwu appealed to the president, Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua
and the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro to set
up a judicial commission of inquiry on the crisis and to investigate
the role of the police in the matter.
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