Rights Groups Demand to Know Where Prime Suspect Is After Lagos Killings

Rights groups are raising concerns over the disappearance of the prime suspect in the murders of Mr Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye in Ajiran, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

Sheriff Salami was reportedly killed in an ambush in Moba, Eti-Osa on April 18, 2023. Prince Kazeem Akinloye was allegedly murdered along Chevron Drive on August 26, 2024.

PUNCH Metro had reported earlier that the prime suspect had been arrested and brought to court for both killings.

At a press conference on Friday, the groups expressed their worries about the suspect’s whereabouts after he was reportedly turned away from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for medical reasons. This happened despite an order from Justice Muyideen of the Igbosere High Court to keep him there until further proceedings.

Comrade Alex Omotehinse, President of the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, spoke for the families and residents of Ajiran. He said the community is scared and traumatized by the killings.

He described Ajiran as “a community paralysed by fear, with inhabitants who now sleep with one eye open.” Omotehinse accused officials of failing the victims and obstructing justice.

“Today, we raise our voices because the very system meant to protect the innocent and punish the guilty has turned its back on these grieving families,” he said.

He added that once the court ordered the suspect’s remand, the police no longer had authority over him. The Nigerian Correctional Service was supposed to take over custody.

“Compliance with the court order was not discretionary but mandatory,” he said. “We are worried that the integrity of our justice system is now under grave threat because of the wanton disregard for a court order.”

Omotehinse stated they received reports that the suspect was not taken to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre as ordered. Authorities allegedly refused custody because of ill health.

He pointed out that no medical documents supporting the suspect’s claimed illness were verified by the court. No formal request was made to change the court order. As of now, the suspect’s location is unknown.

He stressed that failing to follow the court’s directive seems to be a deliberate attempt to frustrate justice. “This disregard for the court order appears to have been orchestrated with the connivance of individuals with statutory responsibility to uphold the rule of law and defend the integrity of the justice system.”

“This is not a minor administrative lapse but a deliberate violation of a subsisting court order. We are deeply concerned about what appears to be a deliberate attempt to subvert the responsibility of the police to investigate crimes.”

Femi Lawson, Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy, also spoke out. He called the suspect’s alleged disappearance after his arrest disturbing and unacceptable.

He argued that there is no reason for moving a suspect facing a serious charge away from lawful custody. “The government has invested in a lot of infrastructure, including medical facilities. So there is no basis on which a suspect in such a capital offence should be shielded and kept out of lawful custody.”

Lawson insisted that the suspect’s location must be made known, not just to law enforcement but also to the victims, who are seeking justice. He also claimed that there is corruption within the justice system and called for the Inspector-General of Police to order an independent investigation.

“You cannot continue to shield him. We also call on the Inspector-General of Police because the police are part of this matter. Several police stations in Lagos have been accused of corruption.”

He added, “We need to respect the sanctity of our judicial system. We cannot take justice away from the court and put it before social media or content creators and expect victims to get justice.”

Lawson called for a thorough investigation into the situation, especially regarding the police's role. He also urged the Minister of Interior and the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service to find out why the suspect was allegedly rejected by Ikoyi Correctional Centre despite the court order.

“The Minister of Interior and the Controller-General must investigate why a suspect ordered to be remanded was rejected by the Ikoyi Correctional Centre due to claimed illness without any medical report. We are demanding that, within the next 48 hours, the whereabouts of this suspect be made known.”

When contacted on Sunday, the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Osho Onimisi, said he would need time to verify these claims.

“I will have to get more information on this tomorrow (Monday),” he told PUNCH Metro.