Posted by By Kunle Adeyemi and Olayinka Oyebode on
ThisDay management has urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, to investigate the murder of its former member of the Editorial Board, Mr. Abayomi Ogundeji, who was shot dead in his car on Sunday evening.
ThisDay management has urged the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, to investigate the murder of its former member of the Editorial Board, Mr. Abayomi Ogundeji, who was shot dead in his car on Sunday evening.
According to a petition dated August 18, 2008 and signed by its Managing Director, Mr. Eniola Bello, the newspaper said, 'We have strong reason to believe that policemen on night patrol may have a clue to the circumstances surrounding Ogundeji's death.'
The newspaper hinged its argument on the reports of its Chief Security Officer, Mr. Jacob Okolo, and the Nigerian Compass which indicated that policemen might have shot Ogundeji.
'This reinforces our suspicions that there is more to Ogundeji's death than what the public has been made to believe that he was killed by armed robbers,' the petition added.
A man who claimed to have witnessed the killing of the frontline journalist, around Akowonjo area of Lagos had earlier on Tuesday narrated how the dastardly act was performed.
But his position is at variance with the petition by ThisDay.
In a statement to the police, the witness (name withheld) said that the late Ogundeji was a ‘victim of circumstance' as he was not being trailed by the killers.
He said he had actually gone to the police at Idimu to report the snatching of his Nissan Murano sports utility vehicle marked BK 168 RSH.
The man, a businessman and resident of Mushin, Lagos, said he was returning from a social function with his wife around 10.25 pm on Sunday when a Peugeot Peugeot 504 car doublecrossed his vehicle.
The incident happened on Liasu Road, near Kings Petrol Station, and there were six armed men in the 504 saloon car, the man said.
According to him, the robbers quickly ordered him to move to the back seat with his wife while one of them immediately took over the steering wheel.
As the robbers were driving off in the Murano jeep, the Peugeot was following them and not too far from where the vehicle was snatched, they sighted Ogundeji's vehicle.
The witness said, 'When they saw the deceased‘s vehicle, they asked the man driving to pursue it, saying, ‘this is another market.'
'But when they got to the rear of the vehicle, it was discovered to be a Kia jeep and they said, ‘this is a useless jeep; it is Kia.'
At that point, the robbers allowed the deceased‘s vehicle to go its way and they continued their journey.
The man, who had been held hostage alongside his wife in his vehicle, said in the statement that at Shasha junction, members of the gang were undecided on which route to take, thereby confusing the driver.
He said as the driver began to drive aimlessly in a confused manner, the snatched vehicle veered into Ogundeji‘s vehicle and the latter hit the former by the driver‘s side.
It was then that the robbers became angry and got down form the Murano jeep. They ordered Ogundeji to roll down his vehicle‘s door glass.
According to him, the late Ogundeji ignored the robbers‘ threats and his action allegedly angered them further.
He claimed that one of the robbers consequently drew his gun and fired at the 'man in the Kia jeep' and promptly returned into the Murano jeep.
According to him, while in the snatched vehicle, other members of the gang began to blame the gang member that shot Ogundeji, but the man said he had to shoot because 'the man proved stubborn.'
The witness said the robbers then began to drive more recklessly and when they got to Abule-Egba and turned towards the abattoir, they ordered him and his wife to come out of the vehicle and lie facing the ground.
After the couple complied, the robbers zoomed off in the jeep.
Meanwhile, the state police commissioner, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, has directed his officers and men at the state Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, to intensify investigation that would lead to the arrest of the culprits.
Also, more condolences have poured in over the killing of Ogundeji.
The Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole and the Democratic People's Alliance, on Tuesday, condoled with the family of the late journalist, Mr. Abayomi Ogundeji.
Fashola, who described the late Ogundeji as a frontline journalist and public relations practitioner, however, called on all relevant security agencies to spare no effort in getting to the root of the murder.
The governor urged members of the public who had useful information that could help the law enforcement agents unravel the crime and apprehend the culprits, to make it available, adding that 'it is only through our collective effort that we can reduce crime to a negligible level in the society.'
Fashola lauded Ogundeji's contributions to the Nigerian society through the journalism profession, which, according to him, he practised with diligence, intelligence and integrity.
He expressed his heartfelt condolence to the family of the late journalist and his professional colleagues while praying God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest.
The Governor reiterated the determination of his administration to continue to invest heavily in enhancing the capacity of security agencies to guarantee the safety of lives and property in the state.
For the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the death of Ogundeji is a monumental loss to the newspaper house and the entire Nigeria media.
Commiserating with the family of the deceased and management and staff of ThisDay on the tragic incident, Saraki said the killing of top editorial members of the organisation and other similar assassinations across the country was becoming worrisome.
The late Ogundeji, the governor noted, was an hardworking youngman who left an indelible mark in the journalism profession.
Saraki, however, prayed God to grant the family of the deceased and the entire media family the fortitude to bear the loss.
Bankole, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, described the killing as 'a wicked way to end the life of a great and hardworking professional.'
He lamented the growing wave of crime in the society, pointing out that the perpetrators of evil in Nigeria would not go unpunished.
Bankole said, 'It is said when human blood is shed, it is more sad when a man is cut down in his prime', adding, 'It is tragic that death came barely two years after Godwin Agbroko, another ThisDay top editorial staff member was killed by suspected armed robbers.'
While condoling the family of the deceased, the Speaker prayed that God would grant them the fortitude to bear the huge loss.