By Onozure Dania
Lagos—A former Divisional Police Officer, DPO, Segun Fabunmi, attached to Pen Cinema Division of Lagos State Police Command, Wednesday, told a Lagos High Court that he could not explain how the ammunition allocated to him left his rifle.
Fabunmi, who had been dismissed, is standing trial for allegedly killing one Ademola Daramola and injuring others during the mass protest on fuel subsidy, organized by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Nigeria, in January 9, 2012.
The alleged offence was committed at Yaya-Abatan, Agege, during the protest.
At the resumed hearing of the trial, Fabunmi said the AK-47 rifle was opened, while on his way to the scene of protest, adding that after Daramola died, he could no longer remember how many rounds of ammunition were left in the rifle until he was about being detained.
Fabunmi, who was being cross-examined by Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, told Justice Olabisi Akinlade that he neither chased anybody, shot nor injured people.
He said: “I did not run after the late Ademola Daramola, may his soul rest in peace. I do not know him. Why would I chase him? It is ridiculous.
“I never ran to anywhere neither did I fire any shot at anybody.”
The defendant also told Justice Olabisi Akinlade that on January 9, 2012, he received a distress call that hoodlums at Yaya Abatan Junction, Ogba Agege area, were breaking people’s windscreens and holding innocent people hostage.
He said when he got there, there was break down of law and order and that immediately the hoodlums saw him and the other seven police officers, they started throwing bottles, sticks, cutlasses, stones and Molotov Curtails.
When asked if he knew that some ammunition got out of his gun, Fabunmi said: ”Yes. I knew that some ammunition got out of my gun when the hoodlums were trying to dispossess me of my rifle, after I sustained injury.
“It took the grace of God for them not to have collected the rifle from me. The other police officers all ran away.”
He said he had only been DPO of Pen Cinema Police Division for two months and that he went to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for treatment, but that he could not remember the name of the doctor that treated him.
However, Justice Akinlade adjourned the matter to February 18, 2015, for the adoption of written addresses

what ??

nonsense DPO talking Bullshit. How on earth will a slug leave its cartridge??

it grew wings and flew

hahahaha

Oh boy, this case na prison straight.

Smh...

hian!

Does he want to tel me he aint competent in handlin a rifle? Nigerian police need serios trainings... Dey also need guns nd not rifles...

Did the DPO drink kai kai before coming to court? Cause this transparent and illogical story of his get as he be o

you go fear self-willed bullet nah

Story for the gods.

The riffle was on auto-operate so it went on a self training at the shooting range

I pray they pardon the Dpo. I know he acted in self defence...the said Yaya Abatan junction is where men with questionable characters dwells. It is unfortunate...

Nobleval:
I pray they pardon the Dpo. I know he acted in self defence...the said Yaya Abatan junction is where men with questionable characters dwells. It is unfortunate...

Nobleval, as much as I admire you, I am disappointed by you wishing the DPO is pardoned. He knew he was carrying a life cartridge in that gun with no safety switch. Even when you are acting in self defense you don't shoot to kill. Police crowd control of more violent protests use rubber bullets, whet the things are civilized. And do you really believe his story of 'the thugs" trying to dispossess him of the rifle? Best case scenario for him should be manslaughter

Is it wrong not just to try this guy for murder but to equally use his case to send some very strong signals to lots of trigger-happy cops who some times, erroneously think that they are above the law?

Accidental discharge! Oga DPO u have been warned by the IGP. May God protect us from stray bullet of NPF,Amen.

I recall this very well, it was one hell of a sad story. The victim of the shooting was killed while playing football with some folks during the 'Subsidy Removal Protest' lasted. There was no attempt to disarm him, I bet you if they did, the victim's acquaintances would not have had the guts to take his corpse to the Police Station, they will swiftly be thrown into the cell. More so, the other folks who had gun shot wounds were initially denied treatment at a hospital, a police report had to be gotten before they were treated.

He has told lies before a law court, in fact he should be tried for perjury. Trigger happy man, they believe they can kill someone and go Scot free.
Let the Judge use this to send a VERY STRONG MESSAGE to other officers.

May Daramola's soul requiescant in pace

guy1234:
Oh boy, this case na prison straight.

you are not getting the logic there,he's really making some points that will set him free.
He might at last escape prison .