Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has written to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba, over the murder of a final year student of the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The victim – Okoli Ahize Chizoputam – was said to have been beaten to death on April 11 over the alleged stealing of a mobile phone at a hall of residence on the campus.
Three weeks after his death, Falani requested the IGP to “furnish us with information about the investigation of the suspects”.
“The information will enable us to pressurise the relevant authorities in Osun State to prosecute the arrested suspects who carried out the barbaric act so as to serve as a deterrent to other perpetrators of jungle justice in the society,” the letter dated May 4 partly read.
He lamented that “instead of reporting the alleged theft to the police the assailants took the law into their hands and resorted to jungle justice in a university community”.
The legal practitioner also confirmed that some arrests were made in connection with the cold murder of the late student.
See the full letter below:
May 4, 2023.
The Inspector General of Police,
The Nigeria Police Force,
Louis Edet House,
Shehu Shagari Way,
Area 11, Garki,
Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON THE ALLEGED KILLING OF OKOLI AHIZE CHIZOPUTAM, A FINAL YEAR STUDENT OF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY (OAU), ILE-IFE, OSUN STATE ON THE 21ST DAY OF APRIL 2023.
We are a firm of legal practitioners committed to the defence of human rights, the rule of law and public accountability in Nigeria.
Our attention has been drawn to the brutal killing of one Okoli Ahize Chizoputam, a final year student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State at about 3:30pm on the 21st day of April 2023. His body was later taken to the Accident and Emergency Unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital,Ile Ife by some concerned students of the institution.
It was alleged the deceased stole a telephone. But instead of reporting the alleged theft to the police the assailants took the law into their hands and resorted to jungle justice in a university community. We have confirmed that some arrests were made in connection with the cold murder of Okoli Ahize Chizoputam,
In the light of the foregoing, we are compelled to request that you furnish us with information about the investigation of the suspects. The information will enable us to pressurise the relevant authorities in Osun State to prosecute the arrested suspects who carried out the barbaric act so as to serve as a deterrent to other perpetrators of jungle justice in the society.
Kindly accept the assurances of the highest esteem of our principal,Mr. Femi Falana SAN as we await your timely response to our request.
Yours sincerely,
Taiwo E. Olawanle, LP.
Per Pro.: Falana & Falana Chambers
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