The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR), in collaboration with other civil society groups, has decried the failure of the police in Ogombo, Eti-Osa, Lekki and Area ‘J’ Police Command of Lagos State to investigate the gruesome murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami at MOBA town adjacent AJIRAN since April 18, 2023.
At a press conference in Lagos, CHSR, in coalition with Frontline Socio-economic Research Centre (FSERC), Campaign Against Impunity (CIA), Centre for the Physically Challenged and Peoples Rights (CPCPR), Community Women Initiative (CWI) and Workbond Initiative Network (WIN) wondered why the police, despite official complaints lodged at the station since then, have not considered it necessary to investigate into the matter and bring the murderers to face the wrath of the law.
In the release signed by Comrade Alex Omotehinse
President CHSR, Shina Loremikan
National Coordinator,
Campaign Against Impunity (CAI), Olatunde Owoeye-Wise
Executive Director,
Centre for the physically Challenged and Peoples Rights(CPCPR), Balogun Hammed
Coordinator,
Front Socio-Economic Research Centre (FSERC), Funmi Jolade Ajayi (Mrs)
Coordinator, Community Women Initiatives (CWI) and Saint Jericho
National Coordinator,
Workbond Initiative Network (Win), they equally called on the Lagos state governor, Banajide Sanwo-Olu and the National Human Rights Commission to intervene to ensure that Justice is not only done but seen to be done.
“We consider it pertinent to embark on advocacy and submission of petitions to draw the attention to the failure of the police in Ogombo, Eti-Osa, Lekki and Area ‘J’ Police Command of Lagos State to investigate the gruesome murder of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami at MOBA town adjacent AJIRAN on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.
The deceased Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami was a leader of the youth in Ojomu community, Ajiran Land.
Following the murder of Mr. Sherriff Ishola Salami, we have had made representations to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zonal Command Headquarters, Zone II, Onikan, Lagos via a petition to draw the attention to the indifference of the police and apparent lack of commitment to investigate the incident which was duly reported at Ogombo Police Station.
We are by this advocacy joined by Mrs. Mariam Ishola Salami, the widow of the deceased submitting separate petitions to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) through the Lagos Office of the agency.
As civil society groups, we are deeply touched by the pain of the immediate family of the deceased.
The police authority in Lekki axis of Lagos State appears uninterested in investigating the murder which was perpetrated in broad day light.
The immediate family members of the deceased are worried and frustrated by the delay that is increasingly assuming a deliberate ploy to shield the perpetrators of the heinous crime from Justice.”
According to them, the deceased who is the breadwinner of the family left behind his critically ill aged mother (who unfortunately died in her inconsolable state in the last week of October, 2023), his wife Mrs. Mariam Ishola Salami and three young daughters, Sinata (5years), Ayisha (4 years), and Arafat (2 years).
They further contended that after 8 months of the cold-blooded murder of Salami without any action, it is time for them to raise the alarm as the defenders of the less privileged in the society, adding, “We are now convinced the police authority in Lagos State has failed in its statutory duty of investigation in spite of the fact that the incident was duly reported at the Ogombo Police Station, Lekki.
It is indeed sad that the family members of the deceased have, in the last 8 months, been left to mourn their beloved son, husband and father without any glimmer of hope of getting justice.
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We are therefore by the submissions of these petitions requesting that the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Police Command act without further delay in activating investigation into the murder.
We are also requesting that the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the National Human Rights Commission should demand urgent action leading to thorough investigation into the gruesome murder without further delay.”
CHSR) is a public good oriented non-governmental organization (NGO) registered as a corporate body to defend, sustain and promote the fundamental human and socio-economic rights of citizens and residents in any part of Nigeria as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
CHSR collaborates with other organizations committed to an ideal Nigerian society founded on participatory democracy, equity, fairness and rule of law.
CHSR works with state and non-state actors, institutions and stakeholders in communities and neighbourhoods towards ensuring fairness, equity, justice and harmony with the view to curtailing violent incidences and threats to public peace.