#EndSARS: Family of slain UNIBEN student petitions judicial panel

The family of Ibrahim Momodu, an undergraduate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), allegedly killed on May 27, 2013, has petitioned the Edo judicial panel of inquiry on extra-judicial killings by police to demand justice.

NAN reports that in the petition dated October 27 and filed by Jefferson Uwoghiren, counsel to the family, the petitioners urged the panel to investigate the role of Carol Afegbai, a retired police officer, in Momodu’s death.

The petitioners demanded the arrest and prosecution of all policemen said to be on duty and present during Momodu’s cold-blooded murder for their alleged complicity in the incident.

The family also demanded N50 million as compensation for the loss, emotional distress and grave injustice done to the bereaved family by agents of the government.

“We demand a public apology from the Nigeria Police Force for defaming the family of the deceased by calling them ‘parents of armed robbers and criminals’,” the petition partly read.

“We demand the renaming of the adjourning road and administrative block at Ogida Police Station, Benin City, after Momodu.”

Momodu was allegedly shot and killed on the allegation that he did not stop when ordered by a police patrol team. Police alleged that the deceased was in possession of a gun, hence they shot him in self-defense.

He was reportedly buried in a public cemetery by the police without informing his family.

The development had generated a public outcry, which led to his body being exhumed while Amadin Idahosa, a former corporal, was later sentenced to life imprisonment for shooting Momodu to death.

In the petition, the family also demanded to know Idahosa’s whereabouts in the aftermath of the recent jailbreak in Benin City.

Carol, the mother of Lilian Afegbai, a Nollywood actress, had earlier explained that her team shot Momodu because they mistook him for an armed robber as the incident took place at night.