Posted by By Eromosele Ebhomele & Bayo Adetu on
Colleagues of Abayomi Ogundeji, the part-time member of ThisDay Editorial Board, who was killed on Sunday, by yet to be identified gunmen, have called for a thorough probe of his death.
Colleagues of Abayomi Ogundeji, the part-time member of ThisDay Editorial Board, who was killed on Sunday, by yet to be identified gunmen, have called for a thorough probe of his death.
At a conference held this morning at the International Press Centre, Ogba, Lagos, by a committee of friends of the late Ogundeji, they called for the setting up of an independent judicial panel of inquiry by the Lagos State government to probe the dastard murder of the editor.
Members of the committee, including president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Chapter, Mr. Wahab Oba, Coordinator, International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, Journalists for Democratic Rights (JODER), Mr. Wale Adeoye, vowed to campaign within and outside Nigeria, 'until the killers of Mr. Ogundeji and their sponsors are brought to book.'
The committee expressed concern that less than 24 hours after the gruesome murder of Ogundeji, the police blamed armed robbers for the death before any investigation was carried out.
'This is typical of an institution that lacks the will to investigate crime, apprehend culprits and ensure that justice is done.
'We are left wondering whether this is a deliberate case of cover up or a case of incompetence. This is bound to raise issues bordering on the ability of the police to carry out a full investigation of the homicide,' the committee stated. The late Ogundeji was shot dead last Sunday, in Dopemu, Lagos, while returning home in his KIA SUV.
His death has generated controversies, as it has been alleged by some witnesses that policemen shot him. However, police authorities have denied the allegation, claiming that he was killed by armed robbers who were operating in that area.
According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, 'honestly, I am pained by the death of that gentleman, but what I do not understand is that people are saying that the police killed him. For what?'
On the contrary, one of the pastors in the deceased's church was quoted as saying; 'the younger sister of the deceased, Miss Odunayo Ogundeji, one of those who saw him last, said he offered her a ride and dropped her at about 5p.m., where the police claimed they found his car with the engine on and his remains inside.
'How come his corpse was found at the same spot where he had earlier dropped his sister?' ThisDay newspapers had on Tuesday, petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, over Ogundeji's murder. Part of the petition reads: 'On the night of Sunday, 17 August, 2008, a member of our Editorial Board, Mr. Abayomi Ogundeji, was shot dead in the Dopemu area of Lagos.
'We have strong reason to believe that policemen on night patrol may have a clue to the circumstances surrounding Mr. Ogundeji's death…'