Ekiti Murder Cases: Arrest and prosecute APC Chairman, Jide Awe, others, Femi Falana petitions Police IG

Report by Kunle Adaranijo

Barrister Femi Falana (SAN) has petitioned the inspector general of police to as a matter of urgency arrest and prosecute those criminals involved in the killings of Ekiti sons and daughters under the watch of former governor Dr Kayode Fayemi.

The petition came on the heels of statement made by a social media activist Mr. Bola Agboola alleging the onetime right activist of maintaining "Criminal Silence" over the dastardly acts of the APC led government under Dr Kayode Fayemi.

Denying maintaining "criminal silence" over the politically motivated killings, Falana said, "On 4/11/13 one Foluso Ogundare was brutally attacked by suspected political thugs at Emure Ekiti. He was rushed to the hospital. Regrettably he gave up the ghost on 5/11/13. As I was in Abuja for a case at the material time I petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on 6/11/13 wherein I called for the arrest and prosecution of the criminals who carried out the dastardly act.

"I was assured that the office of the Inspector-General of Police would take over the case from the Ekiti state police command. Thereafter, at a meeting with the Director General of the State Security Service later that day over the illegal detention of Mrs Clara at the Government House, Enugu I called for en end to impunity in Ekiti state. So far, all the suspects arrested in connection with the gruesome murder at Emure have been transferred to Abuja for interrogation. Without any prompting or blackmail from any quarters whatsoever I am keenly following up the matter until the suspects are charged to court.

"I was on my way to Lagos in the evening of 6/11/13 when my attention was drawn to the reckless statement of one Bola Agboola to the effect that I was maintaining “criminal silence” over the killings in Ekiti state. Although I know the fellow who instigated the objectionable statement I decided to ignore it. But since some people have genuinely expressed concern over the imminent descent to anarchy in Ekiti state (under the APC led government) I wish to asserverate that I could not keep silent over killings and other human rights infringements in any part of Nigeria.

"Under the Kayode Fayemi regime I have never maintained “criminal silence” over killings. In the previous cases of killings and other politically motivated attacks in Ekiti state I have consistently demanded that the suspects be brought to book. It is public knowledge that the chairman of the ruling party in Ekiti state is currently standing trial for murder.

"But since the allegation of “criminal silence” exists in the warped imagination of some misguided political elements they have deliberately suppressed my regular condemnation of violent attacks in Ekiti state under the Kayode Fayemi government. Notwithstanding that the allegation is spurious and uncalled for I wish to advise such characters to goggle the following publications:

(1)” Killings: Falana threatens FG, firms with law suit”

(2)” Falana seeks arrest, prosecution of culprits”

(3)”Falana condemns Iyin Ekiti violence”.

"I shall cause my letter to the Inspector-General of Police to be published within the next 48 hours. But those who sincerely believe in the sanctity of the life of every citizen must rise above partisan politics to demand for the prosecution of all criminal suspects in Ekiti state under the APC led government. It is my fervent conviction that we can take advantage of the barbaric murder of Foluso Ogundare, Murphy Jeje, Madam Juliana Adewunmi, etc to say NEVER AGAIN in Ekiti state!"

Source: http://www.ngrmirror.com/2016/07/ekiti-murder-cases-arrest-and-prosecute.html