Coroner orders contempt charges against police over man killed by ‘trigger happy’ cop

premiumtimesng.com

The coroner sitting at the Alimosho Court has ordered that contempt forms be issued to some officers of the Nigeria Police Force for ignoring several invitations to testify in the inquest involving a man shot to death by a ‘trigger happy’ cop last year.

Chief Magistrate Tajudeen Elias, the Ikeja District Coroner, directed that the officers appear before him on December 18 to answer why the court coroner should not cite them for contempt.

Those to be served the contempt forms include DSP Oyegbade Joseph, Police Force CID (Homicide Section), Area 10, Garki Abuja; the officer in Charge of the Legal Department, State CID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos; one Inspector Fatai Sadiku of D4 Team B, Homicide Department, State CID Panti, Yaba; and the Divisional Police Officer, Shogunle Police Station, Shogunle, Oshodi, Lagos.

Azeez Omotosho, 37, was shot to death allegedly by a police officer in November last year at Shogunle area of Lagos.

The shooter was later identified as Godwin Emejo, a police corporal.

According to the deceased’s wife, who witnessed the shooting, Mr. Omotosho, a technician, and his family were returning to their home when he saw an armed police officer interrogating his friend along the road.

“He (Mr. Omotosho) drew closer to enquire and find out what was amiss. In the process, he was shot repeatedly by the police who later absconded,” the deceased’s wife said.

On November 12, 2013, Access to Justice, a non governmental organization, applied to the Ikeja District Coroner to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the deceased.

Following the group’s application, the Coroner commenced an inquest one month later.

However, since the commencement of the inquest, none of the police officers had appeared before the coroner.