30th March, 2011
The police officer who was arrested in connection with the murder of Femi Olayiwola in front of Onipanu Police station on Sunday 4 December 2010, has been released from the detention of State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.
The suspect, Balla Mohammed Malla, a Chief Superintendent of Police, who is the Divisional Police Officer of Olosan Police Station, Mushin, Lagos, until the day of the incident, was released form detention on Wednesday 23 March 2011.
A source at the State CID told P.M.NEWS that the suspect was released following a letter of withdrawal purportedly written by family members of the deceased while another source said the police authorities in Abuja intervened in the matter.
However, an elder brother to the deceased, Ola Olayiwola, who witnessed the killing of the deceased, said at no time did any family member of the deceased write any letter for the withdrawal of the case.
He stated that when he got to the station, he was told to take away his brother’s car, while that of the suspect had been removed from where it was parked. He said when he enquired about the DPO’s car, he was told that the suspect had been transferred to Abuja. It was at that moment he said he suspected a foul play.
According to him, “no member of my family ever wrote a letter of withdrawal. Since the day our brother was killed, no police officer visited us, except former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, who promised us that justice would be done but till today, nobody has come to us.
“When I got to Panti, Yaba, Lagos on Wednesday evening, I was told to take my brother’s car by the I.P.O. in charge of the matter and I did not see the car of the man that killed him. I now asked about the man and they told me that the man has been released, following a letter of withdrawal written by one of our family members.
“As I’m speaking with you, none of my family members wrote any letter of withdrawal. What we are asking for is justice. The police have killed my brother and now they are trying to kill the justice we are asking for.
“I am appealing to the police authorities that the killer of our brother is brought to book,†Ola said.
When P.M.NEWS contacted the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Samuel Jinadu on the matter, he said he did not know if the man had been released.
CSP Malla was arrested by men of Onipanu Police Station after he allegedly shot and killed the deceased inside his Honda Odyssey car marked BX 714 KSF, with his service pistol early in the morning of Sunday, 4 December, 2010.
On the day of the incident, P.M.NEWS gathered that the police officer, who was in mufti had allegedly pursued the deceased who was in company of his brother, Ola and other friends, on their way from the Oshodi Day celebration. They were in his tinted Camry Car with registration number BM 6011 KJ, before he allegedly shot and killed the deceased in front of Onipanu Police Station.
The reason for his alleged action has not been made known as investigation into the matter has been swept under the carpet.
—Paul Sanusi, Paul Iyoghojie & Ayodeji Dedeigbo