Ekiti State Government has written to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, calling for the immediate arrest of the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Jide Awe, former member of the House of Assembly, Hon Kehinde Boluwade, and 13 others wanted for alleged murder.
The APC chairman and four other members of the APC members, namely Faboro John, Aniramu Basiru, Falayi Busuyi and Owonifari Sefiu are wanted for their alleged involvement in the murder of Ayo Murphy Jeje and Mrs Julianah Adewumi as well as attempted murder of Chief Clement Awoyelu, Gbenga Ogundana Adewumi and Chief Boluwaji Adewumi (aka Oba Odo) in Erinjiyan-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on March 30, 2013.
Also, Hon Boluwade, Ilesanmi Peter, Adedayo Kehinde, Afolabi Bayo Isola, Babalola Olomi, Malomo Alaba, Saidi Yinusa, Ayo Famoduro and Olawumi Fagborila are wanted for alleged involvement in the murder of Foluso Ogundare on November 3, 2013 at Emure Ekiti in Emure Local Government Area of Ekiti State.
The case is court in Charge Number: HCE/1C/2016.
Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, in a letter to the IGP dated July 8, 2016 and copied to the Attorney General of the Federation, National Human Rights Commission and the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, decried the refusal of the police to arrest the accused persons, despite several requests.
The letter reads in part; “I write in respect of the prosecution of series of murder and attempted murder cases pending before the High Courts of Ekiti State wherein the non-availability of Defendants has almost frustrated the prosecutions of these cases despite several requests by my office to the Ekiti State Command of the Nigeria Police Force.
“The Ekiti State has requested the Nigeria Police, Ekiti State Command
to effect the arrests of these culprits but instead of effecting the
arrests, the Police has refused and/or neglected to effect the arrests
on the ground that such arrests should not be made except with the
approval of the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
“The under-listed are among some of the cases: Ekiti State Vs (1)
Olajide Awe, (2) Faboro John Ojo, (3) Aniramu Basiru, (4) Falayi
Busuyi, (5) Awolope Busuyi, (6) Owonifari Sefiu, and (7) Olusola
Adenijo (aka Solar) in Charge Number: HIJ/1C/2015.
“The above case is in respect of the gruesome murder of the following
Deceased Persons (1) Ayodele Jeje and (2) Julianah Adewumi and the
attempted murder of (1) Chief Clement Awoyelu, (2) Gbenga Ogundana
Adewumi, (3) Chief Boluwaji Adewumi (aka Oba Odo) by shooting at them
with guns at Erijiyan Ekiti on or about 30th day of March, 2013 by the
above mentioned Accused Persons.
“Since the Police has granted the accused persons administrative
bails, they have not been present in Court, we have requested the
Ekiti State Commissioner of Police to produce the Accuse Persons
before the trial courts through a letter dated 4th September, 2015
with reference number: 10/s/2295/37.
“Up till now, despite the service of the letter above on the Ekiti
State Police Command and several visits on the same subject matter,
the Police is yet to produce them and/or effect their arrest.
“It should be noted that these offences were committed when the All
Progressives Congress (APC) was in government in Ekiti State and
investigations were conducted even up to the level of your (IGP)
office and these Defendants/Accused Persons were charged to court then
but they were released on bail by the Police.
“It should also be noted that the Defendants are Chieftains of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State. More importantly, the 1st
Accused Person is the State Chairman of the APC when the offences were
committed and he is still the State Chairman till date.
“It is worrisome that the Police that released these Accused Persons
on bail failed to re-arrest them when the trial of the case was
expected to commence.
“It is more worrisome when these Criminals are parading themselves on
the streets of Ekiti State and addressing open rallies of their party
and the Police failed and/or neglected to effect their arrest.
“We are therefore using this golden opportunity to inform your good
offices that professionalism is quite different from politicking;
hence, the Police is an institution with statutory functions of
prevention of crimes, arrest, investigation and prosecution of
offenders irrespective of perceived political affiliation and not an
arm or extension of a political party and it should be seen as acting
as such. The provision of Section 4 of the Police Act is very clear in
this respect.
“If the Police that is saddled with this great task is playing with
same with the covers of politics, there is no doubt, the populace if
in a great danger.
“It is on this note that we are soliciting for your assistance to
kindly direct appropriate offices with due professionalism in the areas of arresting and timely prosecution of these criminals. The Accused Persons are available on the streets in Ekiti State and Nigeria in general.”
