How policeman killed council worker, shot self over N20

While some people believe that Adeola was destined to die of gunshots, some are of the opinion that the greedy policeman was under spell to run into trouble one day. According to an eyewitness, “a bus laden with frozen chicken parts refused to stop for checks at a check point. ‘Constable Jimoh Audu, therefore, carried […]

While some people believe that Adeola was destined to die of gunshots, some are of the opinion that the greedy policeman was under spell to run into trouble one day.

According to an eyewitness, “a bus laden with frozen chicken parts refused to stop for checks at a check point. ‘Constable Jimoh Audu, therefore, carried his colleague, Abolarin on a motorcycle which they used to pursue the driver of the bus. Abolarin started firing into the air when they got around the secretariat. The bullet missed the bus and hit Adeola who was returning from a canteen where he had gone for breakfast.’’

Having sensed a looming danger, Abolarin took to his heels. An angry mob pounced on the motorcyclist, Audu and beat him.

It was learnt that the bus driver who was coming from Ibadan or Lagos, had parted with some money at many check points mounted by the police on the high ways. Hence, he refused to stop at that check point when he entered Akure. A troop of riot and regular police was detailed to prevent the protest from degenerating.

On getting to the scene of the incident, the troop met a strong resistance from the protesters who hurled stones and other dangerous objects at them.

The state Commissioner of Police, Magaji Nasarawa, got to the scene later and appealed to the protesters to calm down. He vowed to bring the culprit to book. On his arrival at the scene of the incident, the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, lauded the protesters for not killing the policeman whom they had apprehended

He assured that justice would be allowed to take its course on the matter, urging the protesters to release the suspect to him for medical treatment. His words, “as soon as he is well within a week, we will swing into action’’. The Supervisor for Works, Lands and Housing in Akure South Local Government,  Oshindero Olugbenga, while fielding question from Sunday  Trust said the incident was shocking.

He explained that the deceased told him that he was going to eat after he completed an assignment given to him, stressing that, ‘’I told him to wait for a while because I was attending to some people. Shortly, news reached me that Dayo who had just   left me was dead.’’

The incident provoked the anger of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ondo State branch, the following day. And it threatened to embark on a mass protest over a perceived harassment, intimidation and killing of its members by men of the state police command.

State President of NULGE, Ayo, Omoreige, at a press conference described the killing of Adeoye by the mobile policeman as unfortunate and uncalled for.

Omoreige, flanked by the State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Muhammed Braimoh, said the trigger happy policeman should not be allowed to go unpunished.

The union said it would no longer tolerate acts that could affect the peaceful co-existence of its members across the state.

Omoreige recalled that some hoodlums invaded the same council three weeks ago, and sent away all the workers.  He said they were demanding for their own share of the contracts being awarded by the council.

He added that a staff of the Owo Local Government, Salami Sunday, was brutalized by armed policemen from Owo police Division last year.  He said, “We are ready to embark on a protest against the incessant attacks on our members. It is totally wrong and unconstitutional for police to harass innocent people, let alone kill somebody who has not committed any offence.

“All we want is justice. The policeman who fired the gun should be brought to book without delay. It is on record that police officers who committed similar offences in the past have always gone unpunished. We don’t want this case to be swept under the carpet,” the union leader said. Omoreige also urged the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order as local government workers would no longer tolerate such unconstitutional and ungodly acts from the police.

He raised alarm that Abolarin who was apprehended a few hours after the union issued a 48 -hour ultimatum to the state government, shot himself on the leg to give an impression that he was defending himself.

“The suspect who is now in police custody is claiming that he was shot on the leg when actually nobody attacked him. We are appealing to the police authorities to make sure that the case is not swept under the carpet

“What we want is that corporal Muyiwa Abolarin and the other police officer, Jimoh Audu, who is the owner of the motorcycle which they used to carryout the dastardly act, should not be allowed to go scot-free.” he said.

While aligning with NULGE chairperson’s position, the state NLC Chairman, Comrade Muhammed Braimoh, urged the Acting President, Mr. Goodluck Jonathan, not to allow the case to be handled with levity.

According to him, police authorities have failed to address series of petitions written against the conduct of some unscrupulous police officers in the state.

“We had written series of petitions about the misconduct of some policemen in Ondo State since 2007. Nothing meaningful has come out of the petition. All we hear from the police headquarters is they are investigating the matter

“We are tired of investigation. We want the Inspector General of Police to take drastic action this time around,” he added.

Speaking further, Omoriege said the state government had set up a committee to ensure that appropriate action was taken over the issue.  According to him, the committee which is made up of the deputy governor, commissioner for police and director of state security services and the leadership of NULGE, was set up to make sure that the case was not swept under the carpet.

He also stated that the state government had signified intention to assist the family of the deceased who were planning to bury their late father in the next few days.

Sunday Trust investigations revealed that the late Dayo, until his untimely death, was making funeral arrangements for his late father. He planned to bury his father on March 20, 2010.

The late father, Pa. Adeola was said to have tried to intervene in a fight. In the attempt to separate the combatants, one of them pushed him and he slumped and died.

A few days after, Abolarin was arraigned before an Akure Chief Magistrate Court for alleged murder

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Adeniran Aremu (ASP), said the police authorities summarily dismissed   the accused before he was charged to court.  Aremu said the dismissal was the fallout of the trial set up to look into the case which recommended that Abolarin should be sacked.

The killer cop who was handcuffed to the court was carrying a shotgun he allegedly fired at himself to give the impression that he was shot before he retaliated.

However, Abolarin’s colleague who rode the motorcycle when the unfortunate incident happened was not brought to court for trial.

When the charge was read, the Police Prosecutor, Ifedayo Amos (ASP) said he had intended to seek legal advice from the Department of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice over the case.

The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Akinwumi E. ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody at Olokuta.

While the accused was being led into a waiting ‘Black Maria’, he told newsmen that he actually regretted his action, attributing it to the devil. One could not but be moved as Abolarin’s wife broke down in tears crying like a baby in the court premises.