Posted by By Jamiu Yisa on
Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Barrister Femi Falana, has blamed the Ekiti state government and the state police command for the brutal assassination of Mr. Kehinde Fasubaa.
Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Barrister Femi Falana, has blamed the Ekiti state government and the state police command for the brutal assassination of Mr. Kehinde Fasubaa.
The lawyer also chided them for aiding and abetting armed gangs that have continued to terrorise the hapless people of Ekiti state. He explained that the dastardly killing of Fasubaa, on Saturday, 3 January, 2009, at Ado-Ekiti, has, once again, brought to the fore the insecurity in the state.
Falana said the evidence of complicity on the part of the authorities in Ekiti state includes the compromised position of the PDP-led government on the attempted murder of Taye Fasubaa, on 11 September, 2004, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo's pressure on governor Oni to discontinue pending criminal cases involving the assassination of Mr. Tunde Omojola and Dr. Ayo Daramola, execution of five UNAD undergraduates without trial, amongst others.
According to him, 'the case of the suspects who were charged with the attempted murder of Mr. Taye Fasubaa, on 11 September, 2004, was compromised and settled by the PDP-led government.
'Consequently, the accused persons were discharged by the Ado-Ekiti High Court, for want of evidence. 'In recent times, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo has been mounting pressures on governor Segun Oni to discontinue the pending criminal cases involving the assassination of Mr. Tunde Omojola and Dr. Daramola. Although they have not been withdrawn, the Ekiti state government has been lackadaisical in the prosecution of the cases. Hence, the trial court has threatened to discharge the accused persons for want of diligent prosecution.
'In November, 2007, the Ekiti police command arrested five undergraduates of the University of Ado Ekiti, namely Tosin Ibironke, Afolabi Adeyinka, Dele Olaleye, Idowu Animashaun and Ademola Adepoju, for alleged robbery. Without trial, whatsoever, the police executed them while in custody. Calls by the bereaved parents of the deceased and the human rights community for the arrest and prosecution of the culprits have fallen on the deaf ears of the state government.
'On 15 December, 2008, the Military Joint Task Force invaded Ekiti state and arrested Sgt. Ibukun Omoseyin and Sgt. Balogun Samuel for selling over 100,000 rounds of ammunition to kidnappers operating in the Niger Delta.
'On 20 December, 2008, armed thugs and mobile policemen hired by the PDP, unleashed violence on innocent people in Ekiti East, Ekiti South, West and Ikere local governments, during the local government elections. The demand for the arrest and prosecution of those who committed grave criminal offences, including attempted murder in Ward 2, at Ilawe-Ekiti, have been ignored,' he stated.
The lawyer submitted that in view of the complicity of the governor Segun Oni administration and the Ekiti state police command in covering up the aforesaid heinous criminal offences, the murder of Mr. Kehinde Fasubaa should not be treated in isolation. He called on the Ekiti people to put their political differences aside and come together to stop the reckless killing of innocent persons.