Posted by By OBIDIKE JERRY on
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.
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.