Falana writes IGP, seeks justice for OAU student lynched over ‘phone theft’

Falana & Falana Chambers has written to the inspector-general of police (IGP) to seek intelligence on the force’s investigation into the lynching of an Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student.

A mob, last April, lynched a final-year student, later identified as Okoli Ahize Chizoputam, for alleged phone theft.

The student was later taken to the OAU Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife where he was confirmed dead.

In a letter addressed to the office of the IGP, Falana Chambers, run by the human rights lawyer Femi Falana, requested details of the police investigation into the case to pursue the prosecution of some arrested suspects.

“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,” the law firm wrote.

“We have confirmed that some arrests were made in connection with the cold murder of Okoli Ahize Chizoputam.

“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 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.”