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Tag: Kolade Johnson

  • Kolade Johnson: Inspector to face trial in high court

    The Lagos State Government on Monday took over the prosecution of dismissed Inspector Olalekan Ogunyemi, who is accused of killing a football enthusiast, Mr Kolade Johnson on March 31.

    Ogunyemi will now be tried at the high court following the recommendation of Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    He has been in prison since April 5 following his remand by an Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court pending the DPP’s advice. The remand order was obtained by the police.

    When the case was mentioned on Monday, Magistrate A.O. Salawu said the DPP advised that the case be transferred to the high court.

    Read Also: Buhari condemns killing of Kolade Johnson by SARS

    The DPP, she added, advised that Ogunyemi should be prosecuted in accordance with Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    But the DPP absolved the second suspect, Godwin Oji, of complicity in the case and asked that he should be released.

    The magistrate adjourned till August 6 for the case to be filed at the high court.

    Ogunyemi, of No. 17, Alhaji Ede Street, Igando, was brought before the court on April 6, on a temporary one-count charge of murder.

    Prosecuting Inspector Kehinde Olatunde alleged that he committed the offence on March 31, at about 5:10pm , at Onipetesi Estate, Idi-Mangoro, Lagos.

    Olatunde alleged that Ogunyemi, who served in the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, shot Johnson, a 36-year-old father of one, to death, with his AK47 rifle.

  • Kolade Johnson: Court remands suspected killer cop

    An Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos Monday extended till June 10, its remand order against a dismissed Police Inspector, Olalekan Ogunyemi, accused of killing a football fan, Kolade Johnson.

    This means that Ogunyemi, 45, who has already spent 30 days in Ikoyi Prison custody following his remand by the court on April 5, will now stay in custody for 35 more days or 65 days in total.

    Magistrate A.O. Salawu extended the remand order because the advice on the case which was expected from the Office of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is not yet out.

    Ogunyemi was not in court yesterday and no reason was given by the police, for his absence.

    The suspect, of No. 17, Alhaji Ede Street, Igando, was brought before the court on April 6, on a temporary one-count charge of murder. Prosecuting Inspector Kehinde Olatunde alleged that he committed the offence on March 31, at about 5:10pm, at Onipetesi Estate, Idi-Mangoro, Lagos.

    READ ALSO: Kolade Johnson: Buhari frowns at SARS, promises prosecution of perpetrators

    Olatunde alleged that Ogunyemi, who served in the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Lagos State Police Command, shot Johnson, a 36-year-old father of one, to death, with his Ak47 rifle.

    The offences, the prosecutor said, contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.Olatunde informed the court that he had a remand application order to detain the defendant for 30 days.

    The plea of the defendant was not taken by the court, because magistrates’ court have no jurisdiction to try a charge of murder. But the defendant’s counsel, Sola Adeyemi, opposed the remand request.

    Adeyemi prayed the court to instead remand the defendant for the next 14 days. In a bench ruling, Magistrate Salawu upheld the prosecutor’s application and adjourned till yesterday for the DPP’s advice.

  • Dismissed Inspector charged with Kolade Johnson’s murder remanded

    An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, yesterday remanded till May 6, a dismissed Police Inspector, Olalekan Ogunyemi, charged with murdering a football fan, Kolade Johnson.

    Magistrate A.O. Salawu remanded Ogunyemi at Ikoyi Prisons, pending advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The court’s order was sequel to an application by the police.

    Ogunyemi, 45, of No. 17, Alhaji Ede Street, Igando, was docked on a one-count charge of murder.

    Prosecuting Inspector Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 31, at about 5:10pm, at Onipetesi Estate, Idi-Mangoro, Lagos.

    Read also: Yet again, the cops killed Kolade!

    He alleged that Ogunyemi, who served in the Anti-Cultism Unit of Lagos State Police Command, shot Johnson, a 36-year-old father of one, to death, with his Ak47 rifle.

    The offences, the prosecutor said, contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Olatunde informed the court that he had a remand application order by the police to remand the defendant for the next 30 days.

    Kolade Johnson

    The plea of the defendant was not taken by the court because magistrates’ courts don’t have jurisdiction to try a charge of murder.

    But the defendant’s counsel, Sola Adeyemi, opposed the 30-day remand request.

    Adeyemi prayed the court to instead remand the defendant for the next 14 days.

    In a bench ruling, Magistrate Salawu upheld the prosecutor’s application and adjourned till May 6.

  • Court remands Inspector charged with murdering Kolade Johnson

    An Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Friday remanded till May 6, a dismissed Police Inspector, Olalekan Ogunyemi, charged with murdering a football fan, Kolade Johnson.

    Magistrate A.O. Salawu remanded Ogunyemi at Ikoyi Prisons, pending advice from Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The court’s order was sequel an application by the police.

    Ogunyemi, 45, of No. 17, Alhaji Ede Street, Igando, was docked on a one-count charge of murder.

    Prosecuting Inspector Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the defendant committed the offence on March 31, at about 5:10pm, at Onipetesi Estate, Idi-Mangoro, Lagos.

    He alleged that Ogunyemi, who served in the Anti Cultism Unit of Lagos State Police Command, shot Johnson, a 36-year-old father of one, to death, with his Ak47 rifle.

    Read Also:  Police Inspector who killed Kolade Johnson dismissed

    The offences, the prosecutor said contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Olatunde informed the court that he had a remand application order by the police to remand the defendant for the next 30 days.

    The plea of the defendant was not taken by the court, because magistrates’ court don’t have jurisdiction to try a charge of murder.

    But the defendant’s counsel, Sola Adeyemi, opposed the 30-day remand request.

    Adeyemi prayed the court to instead remand the defendant for the next 14 days.

    In a bench ruling, Magistrate Salawu upheld the prosecutor’s application and adjourned till May 6.

  • Group seeks compensation for Johnson, NSCDC staff, others

    The Concerned Nigerians group has asked the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force to compensate families of those killed by police officers.

    Two Nigerians; Kolade Johnson was shot by a policeman in Lagos, while a staff of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp, Ogah Jumbo was allegedly beaten to death by policemen in Nyanya area of Abuja.

    The group made their stance known in Abuja on Friday during a protest to the Force Headquarters to demand justice.

    Shortly after the Protesters assembled, the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu invited members of the group to his office for a chat.

    Speaking on why they were protesting, the Convener of the group, Deji Adeyanju said the police leadership needs to purge itself of bad eggs.

    Adeyanju also said the misconduct of some officers was due to poor funding.

    READ ALSO: Kolade Johnson: Buhari frowns at SARS, promises prosecution of perpetrators

    He said: “In the recent time, Kolade Johnson, a staff of NSCDC and several others have been killed during an engagement with the Police. We feel there is need for Police authority to take more steps in the hygiene of officers and men of the Force.

    “We believe some of the misconduct witnessed is due to the fact that the Police is underfunded. If they are well funded, we believe money would be made available to purchase equipment that don’t necessarily have to be deadly.

    “We believe proper funding will prevent friction and make them discharge their duties effectively.

    “We are also seeking compensation for the families of Johnson, the NSCDC staff and so many others that have been killed as a result of Police carelessness,” Adeyanju said.

    Responding to their request, the IGP said: “I invited you in to know the problems. We are citizens of this country and the Nigeria Police Force is for all. We were established to serve the society and so we find it necessary to listen to you.

    “Frictions arise when there are gaps in communication. Listening to you like we just did will make us better informed and it will help us avoid friction.”

  • Breaking: Police Inspector who killed Kolade Johnson dismissed

    Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan has been dismissed for the killing of Kolade Johnson.

    Olalekan was found guilty after an orderly room trial that started on Monday.

    Kolade was killed by a stray bullet when operatives of the anti-cultism unit of the police command stormed the area for a raid at Onipetesi, Lagos-Abeokuta road on Sunday.

    Olalekan and Godwin Orji, a sergeant, were identified as suspects who carried out the shooting by the police force.

    Lagos police spokesman, Bala Elkana, said on Thursday, in a statement, that only Olalekan was found guilty.

    He explained: “The two Police officers alleged to have been involved in the shooting of Kolade Johnson on 31/03/2019 were apprehended and subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings, known as Orderly Room Trial by the Command.

    Read also: Police arrest ‘notorious’ suspected kidnapper in Ondo

    “The Orderly Room trial commenced on Monday 01/04/2019 and ended on Thursday 04/04/2019.

    “They were tried on  three count charges: (1) Discreditable Conduct (2) Unlawful and Unnecessary Exercise of Authority and (3) Damage to Clothing or Other Articles contrary to Paragraph E (iii), Q (ii) and D (i) First Schedule, Police Act and Regulations, Cap 370 LFN 1990.

    “The trial started with the reading of charges and taking of plea.

    “Five witnesses testified.

    “At the conclusion of the trial, the first defaulter, Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan was found guilty of Discreditable conduct by acting in a manner prejudicial to discipline and unbecoming of members of the Force by shooting and killing Kolade Johnson; Unlawful and Unnecessary exercise of authority by using unnecessary violence, by using AK 47 rifle on the deceased in total neglect to the provisions of Force Order 237 on the use of Firearms.

    “The Adjudicating Officer, CSP Indyar Apev awarded the punishment of dismissal from service and prosecution to the First defaulter.

    “There was no evidence linking the second defaulter, Sergeant Godwin Orji to the shooting, he was therefore found not guilty and discharged and acquitted.”

     Olalekan, according to the police, has been handed over to the criminal investigation department for prosecution in a conventional court.

  • Group slams police for killing Kolade Johnson

    A human rights organization, Crime Victims Foundation of Nigeria (CRIVIFON) has condemned the killing of a football fan, Kolade Johnson by two officers of the anti- cultism unit of the Lagos Police Command.

    The foundation, in a statement issued in Lagos Thursday also condemned what it described as “careless use of rifles” by the two policemen involved.

    The spokesman of the Lagos Police Command, Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), had in a statement on Tuesday named the suspected officers as Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sergeant Godwin Orji.

    In the statement issued by its  Executive Director, Mrs. Gloria Egbuji, the group said it was pained that the two policemen involved in the killing were once beneficiaries of the police human rights training facilitated by the foundation.

    It regretted that they threw away every knowledge they have acquired during the training programme.

    Read Also: Police reveal cop-killers of Kolade Johnson

    “No Nigerian or even a foreigner in our midst should be deprived of his or her life in such an uncivilized manner as displayed by the Anti-Cultism Team involved in the dastardly act,” it said.

    The foundation also expressed dismay over the attitude of some policemen at a time the federal government is seriously giving attention to the restructuring of the Police Force for efficient performance and especially with respect to the issue of human rights violation.

    According to Egbuji: “As facilitators of the police human rights training which began in 2006 at the Lagos Police Command, CRIVIFON would want every police man who undergoes the training to bring the knowledge acquired to bear on his job.

    “They should not see the training merely as an opportunity to acquire certificate but knowledge needed to improve their service delivery.

    “They should also see the training as opportunity to reform their character traits with respect to how they used to perceive people’s fundamental human rights before undergoing the human rights training.”

    She however remarked that the foundation is encouraged by the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari and the police management in their reactions to the unwarranted killing of Kolade Johnson have emphasized the administration’s on-going effort to over haul the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and other such units particularly through regular training of personnel to avoid the continuous violation of people’s constitutional and fundamental rights.

    She also acknowledged the swift action taken by the Lagos CP, Muazu Zubairo to immediately unravel what happened and the assurance to deal with the situation in accordance with the law by prosecuting the suspects

    “As partners in the human rights training, CRIVIFON commended President Buhari for showing interest in reforming the police and also, appreciated authorities of the Nigeria Police Force for creating the enabling environment for such training of their officers and men to take place particularly with the renewed vigor of the present Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu to ensure that officers and men of SARS and other units are regularly trained,” she added.

     

     

  • Johnson was shot dead, family claims

    Was Kolade Johnson, the soccer fan who met his fatal end at Onipetesi near Ikeja, Lagos on Sunday, killed by stray bullet or shot dead by the police?

    This was the poser yesterday as his family alleged that he was shot dead by the policemen who stormed Olu Aboderin Street, Onipetesi, that fateful day to arrest a suspected cultist.

    The late Johnson’s foster father, Alhaji Remi Lukman, told The Nation at the family’s 1, Beco Street, Onipetesi home that stray bullets could not have penetrated his body twice.

    The family, he said,  had video evidence to prove that the deceased and his friends were shot at by the policemen.

    Lukman said: “We have been hearing that it was a stray bullet that hit Kolade, but I must tell you that a stray bullet cannot penetrate a body twice. If the policemen had not directed the gun at them, two bullets would not have hit him.

    “He was the hope of the family, a gentle boy. As I am talking to you, I have gone beyond this level; I’m just trying to set everything in motion to prove that Kolade was not hit by stray bullets.”

    Reliving the incident, Lukman said: “He was just there at that spot, catching fun with his friends and watching a football match, which of course, anybody could have done.

    “A response to a woman screaming ’kidnappers! kidnappers!’ made them (those watching the match) to leave the eatery and come out to know why the woman was shouting.”

    He said the deceased was quiet and intelligent, adding: “You really needed to have known him. He was a very gentle boy.

    Read also: Buhari condemns killing of Kolade Johnson by SARS

    “The video clip shows that he was walking behind other boys when bullets were fired at them. He wasn’t intrusive at all.

    “It was just unfortunate that he was a victim. All we are asking for is justice. It is unfortunate that someone like him died at a tender age. He died in his prime,” Lukman added.

    The late Johnson’s elder sister, Toluwani Lukman, described him as her companion, saying she would miss him for many things.

    The late Kolades’ niece, Khadija Lukman, said: “He never got angry. He was a good cook.”

    His mother, Mrs. Esther Odebiyi, kept quiet during the interview. She was apparently too sad to talk.

  • ‘Suspected soccer fan killer exposed two weeks ago’

    One of the policemen arrested for allegedly killing a football fan, Kolade Johnson, in Ikeja on Sunday was two weeks ago exposed on the social media for alleged extortion and harassment around Gbagada, Lagos, The Nation learnt yesterday.

    Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sergeant Godwin Orji are undergoing orderly room trial for alleged indiscriminate use of firearms, which killed Johnson while he was watching Liverpool versus Tottenham match at Olu Aboderin Street, Onipetesi, Ikeja.

    Following the disclosure of their identities by Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu, Inspector Ogunyemi, alias ‘Omo Eko’, was identified as the same officer, whose picture was posted on Twitter by Oluwasegun Haziz on March 22, with a young man prostrating before him.

    Read also: Kolade Johnson: Buhari frowns at SARS, promises prosecution of perpetrators

    In the post, Haziz appealed to the Complaint Response Unit (CRU), headed by Abayomi Shogunle, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), to caution the inspector for alleged illegal activities, which he witnessed following the arrest of his colleague at Queens Street, Sabo, Yaba.

    He alleged that his colleague and others were dragged down from a commercial bus while they were returning from lunch, because of their hairstyles, taken to a corner at Gbagada Police Station, Lagos where they were asked to each bring N50,000.

    Haziz, who alleged that he paid N5,000 for his colleague’s release after calling someone, who intervened, added that he witnessed another victim pay N50,000 because nobody pleaded on his behalf.

    Nigerians on social media have slammed the police, especially the CRU, for not taking action when the officer was reported two weeks ago. They lamented that the inspector was only arrested after allegedly killing an innocent football fan.

  • Kolade Johnson: Buhari frowns at SARS, promises prosecution of perpetrators

    President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed regret over the recent action of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Police Command in Lagos, which led to the avoidable death of Kolade Johnson.

    President Buhari, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Wednesday, acknowledged the genuine outrage regarding the activities of SARS.

    The president reassured the public that swift actions had already been taken as the suspects were in custody.

    He said that an orderly room trial was set to commence immediately, following which indicted officers would be prosecuted in court.

    Buhari, who commiserated deeply with the family of the deceased, said: “Government will not tolerate, in any way, the brutalization of Nigerians or the violation of their rights.

    “Any officer of the law enforcement agencies or any other government functionary caught in this act will certainly be visited with the full weight of the law,” the president said.

    Read Also: BMO: you can’t compare Buhari with Atiku

    He recalled that the Presidency, in 2018 directed overhaul of the management and activities of the SARS, the president said steps were taken by the Police leadership to restructure and reform the squad.

    Buhari however, observed that a lot more remained to be done and sustained.

    The president pledged his administration’s resolve to ensure that the Police and other law enforcement agencies conducted their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights and Humanitarian Laws.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Johnson had on March 31, gone to watch a football match when he was hit by stray bullet from policemen attached to the Police Anti-Cultism Unit.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, had already revealed the names of policemen involved in the killing of Kolade Johnson at Mangoro area of the state.

    Muazu, who made the revelation when he paid a condolence visit to the deceased’s family, identified the officers as: Insp. Ogunyemi Olalekan and Sgt. Godwin Orji attached to Anti Cultism Squad.

    NAN