. Sergeant discharged and acquitted
The Police Inspector, one Ogunyemi Olalekan , who fired the shot that killed football fan, Kolade Johnson on Sunday at Onipetesi, in Mangoro area of Lagos has been dismissed and handed over for prosecution .
The Inspector was dismissed after orderly room trial by the police while sergeant Godwin Orji was discharged and acquitted .
The suspected killer policemen attached to the anti-cultism unit of the Lagos State Police Command were arrested last Sunday on the order of Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, soon at the incident.
The deceased, Kolade Johnson, was allegedly shot dead at a football viewing centre at Onipetesi. The incident had sparked off protest as youths in the area took to the streets to protest the killing
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana in a statement said that the Command yesterday concluded Orderly trial for the suspects during which the inspector was found guilty of all the three count charges brought against him.
Bala, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) said that the Police Inspector has since been handed over to the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (SCIID), for prosecution.
He said that the police officers alleged to have been involved in the shooting of Kolade Johnson on Sunday, March 31, 2019 were apprehended and subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings, known as orderly room trial by the Command.
He said that the ORT commenced on Monday, April 1, and ended on Thursday, April 4 and during which the suspects were tried on three count charges bordering on discreditable conduct, unlawful and unnecessary exercise of authority and damage to clothing or other Articles contrary to paragraph E (iii), Q (ii) and D (i) First Schedule, Police Act and Regulations, Cap 370 LFN 1990.
“The Trial started with the reading of charges and taking of plea. Five witnesses testified. At the conclusion of the trial, the first defaulter, Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan was found guilty of discreditable conduct by acting in a manner prejudicial to discipline and unbecoming of members of the Force by shooting and killing Kolade Johnson; unlawful and unnecessary exercise of authority by using unnecessary violence, by using AK 47 rifle on the deceased in total neglect to the provisions of Force Order 237 on the use of Firearms.
“The Adjudicating Officer, CSP Indyar Apev awarded the punishment of dismissal from service and prosecution to the first defaulter. There was no evidence linking the second defaulter, Sergeant Godwin Orji to the shooting, he was therefore found not guilty and discharged and acquitted. The first defaulter, Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan is handed over to SCIID ,Panti ,for prosecution in conventional Court” , he said.
