7th March, 2016
Cyriacus Izuekwe
Members of Women Arise, a non governmental organization led by Dr Jeo Okei-Odumakin on Monday protested at the premises of the Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court over the brutal murder of a housewife by a policeman last year in Lagos State, western Nigeria.
The protest which started at the court premises spread to some streets in the area where the members sang solidarity songs and condemned any form of extra-judicial killing by the police.
While marching on the streets, they carried and displayed different placards to pass their message.
Messageson some of the placards read: “We need Justice for Idongesit”, “Police stop killing citizens you are paid to protect” and many others.
Disclosing while they were in court, Odumakin said they came to show solidarity with the surviving husband of the victim, Godwin, who was also shot by the police, and to support the four children left behind by his late wife.
She also said they want justice for the victim and to campaigning against brutality and extra-judicial killings of the citizens by the police.
Odumakin commended the Lagos State Commissioner of poice, Fatai Owoseni, and the Inspector General of police, Mr Solomon Arase, for their intervention in getting justice for the victim’s family, adding that they should do more.
She said Godwin and their children, Blessing, Mary, Abraham and Elijah, need to be compensated and rehabilitated from the trauma they are passing through.
Idongesit Udom and her husband, Godwin, were shot by a policeman identified as Musliu Aremu over their refusal to pay him N2,000 bribe last year.
Aremu reportedly used his AK47 rifle to shoot the couple who were in a tricycl with their four children on the way from a church.
During the attack, Godwin sustained serious injury and his wife Idongesit died on the spot.
The incident happened along Ijegun road in Ikotun ares of Lagos State.
Aremu was serving at Isheri Oshun police division when the incident happened.
Following the incident, Aremu was arrested and dismissed from the police.
He was charged before Ebute Meta Magistrates’ court where he was remanded in prison custody pending the DPP’s advice.
The DPP report directed that Aremu should be arraigned and prosecuted for murder and attempted murder at the High court under the Criminal Code.
He was remanded in prison custody at Ikoyi after he was taken to court.
When the matter came up on Monday, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Bolashade Botoku. further adjourned the matter till 25 April, 2016.
She reiterated her earlier order that Aremu must be produced before the court.