By: Mandy Park
One year after the gruesome murder of Sherrif Ishola Salami by unknown assailants, the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights ( CHSR) has raised the alarm that the police have refused to conduct investigation to unravel killers.
Even widow of the late Salami, Mariam Salami alleged that the police have done nothing despite all appeal made to them.
As CHSR and the family of the deceased await justice, thay call on Governor Sanwo-Olu and IGP Kayode Egbetokun to order thorough investigation into the case.
Recall that the late Salami a youth leader in Ajiran land was murdered on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Moba town, adjacent to Ajiran in Etiosa local council, Lagos State, allegedly by Land grabbers, who held sway in the area.
CHSR is demanding that one-year after the unresolved murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami and in the interest of justice that “”IGP Kayode Egbetokuun owes the global community explanation on the continued silence over the callous murder of Sheriff Ishola Salami in spite of several petitions to his office.
“Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu should demand investigation into the murder of Sherriff Ishola Salami) on April 18, 2023. Lagos State Police Command should, without further delay, make public statement on the unresolved murder of Sherriff Ishola Salami to avail Nigerians and global citizens on its stance.
“”The continued silence of those charged with responsibility of public accountability and justice; one year after the murder of a citizen is reprehensible and criminal.”
Part of the speech delivered during a Press briefing by the President of CHSR, Comrade Alex Omotehinse on Tuesday, 18th April, reads in part “”Civil Society Stakeholders under the platform of Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) and partners across civil society platforms in Lagos State and at the national level consider it pertinent to address the media on one-year anniversary of the gruesome murder of a leader of the youth in Ojomu community. Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami at MOBA town adjacent AJIRAN on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
” One year after the gruesome murder, we are appalled that the police were yet to conduct investigation into the callous incident. We therefore wish to restate our earlier stance that the apparent nonchalance of the police authority was deliberately orchestrated to frustrate investigation and deny justice to the immediate family of the deceased.
“You would recall that in the last one year, we have had cause to call out the Inspector General of Police (IGP) KAYODE EGBETOKUN with appeal to the Lagos State Governor Mr. BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU on the need to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime and bring them to book in accordance with the dictates of rule of law and in the interest of justice.
“In the last one year, the mother of the late Sheriff who was terminally ill at the time of the unfortunate incident passed on in trauma while his wife Mrs. Mariam Ishola Salami and three young daughters, Zinat, Asisat, and Arafat are yet to be reassured that justice would be done to the memory of their loved one.
“The family of the deceased has been left to mourn their beloved son, husband and father without any glimmer of hope of getting justice since the law enforcement agencies; particularly the police charged with the responsibility of protection and conducting criminal investigation have not been forthcoming.
“We are therefore compelled to again demand that the suspected masterminds and accomplices in the cold-blooded murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami whose photograph is displayed on the banner for this press conference be investigated by the police.
“We at the CHSR as well as rank and file of leadership of human rights community in Lagos State and by extension Nigeria are demanding that the new leadership of the Nigeria Police headed by Inspector General Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun should order credible investigation into the callous incident of April 18, 2023 at MOBA town adjacent AJIRAN and, as expected, all issues and circumstances that may have culminated in the murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami.
“For the avoidance of doubts, the murder incident was duly reported at the Ogombo police station, Lekki and followed up with a notification to Assistant Inspector General of Police, Nigeria Police Force, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan.
“You would recall that in November, 2023, we embarked on advocacy to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, National Human Rights Commission (Lagos State Office) and the Office of the Governor of Lagos State.
” We also petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA) to wade into the matter. We wish to place on record that the leadership of the LAHA commenced inquiry into the matter through the House Committee on Human Rights.
” The House Committee after two sittings urged the Lagos State Police Command represented by the Assistant Commissioner, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to investigate the murder.
“We are also aware that concerned indigenes of Ajiran community and the traditional leadership have made representations to the Nigeria Police to unravel the murder of Sherriff Ishola Salami.
“Unfortunately, however, neither the Lagos State Police Command nor the Office of the IGP has taken meaningful steps to investigate the murder case.
” We therefore wish to again call on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to wade into the matter and ensure that investigation is conducted in the interest of justice.”
