The Mother of late Olatunju Tope who was allegedly shot by Police Officers has demanded for N25millon compensation from Government.
Madam Elizabeth Olatunji living at Inidara street, Ire Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State testifying before Ekiti State Judicial Panel of Inquiry in a case of Mother of late Mr Tope Blessing Olatunji Vs the Nigeria Police Ekiti State Command and SARS explained how his only son was alledgedly shot by police in the front of her House in Ire Ekiti.
She testified that on 10th August, 2020, Late Tope Blessing Olatunji was in the front of their house washing clothes and herself was at the backyard preparing food that they were going to eat when she heard noise of police vehicle and gunshots from Policemen shooting sporadically in their street, she hurriedly rushed out to call the boy inside which the boy upon instructions immediately left what he was doing.
She explained further that the boy was about entering the house, and I looked back saw him fell down after been hit by a bullet, I grabbed him and rushed him to the hospital in company of some of our relatives where he was confirmed death.
Under cross examination, she said she is not an Ogun worshipper and her house is about 3km away from where they worship Ogun when she was asked if she is aware of Ogun Festival in town on that day, she explained further that the father of the child fainted when he saw that the gunshots has hit his son.
She recounted that the shock of the death of his son later resulted to the death of her husband two weeks later.
Mrs Olatunji sobbing stated that ” I have not been myself since that time, my health is going down I want help, please help me to survive”.
” If you give me N25 Million I will take it and use for business, because there is nobody to help me, my only son is dead, my husband is dead, I have no helper I am alone ‘she cried ‘
In another case of Mr. Akinyide Simon Olusegun (sueing) on behalf of Mrs Catherine Omokehinde Olusegun vs The Nigerian Police Ekiti State Command and SARS.
Mr Simon Olusegun of NO 59, Iyeni Street, Ire Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti state explained how his wife was alledgedly killed by Police Officers where she was buying food for her children.
Mr Simon Olusegun an Okada rider, married to Mrs Catherine Omokehinde Olusegun in November, 2019, and blessed with two children, while the deceased wife was two months pregnant as at the time of the incident.
He explained further that on 10th August, 2020 after an early morning prayer, I gave her two hundred Naira (N200) to buy food for our children after which I left for church, she equally left the house for the food vendor, Madam Bejide’s place.
“I am a Roman Catholic believer and I went to the church to meet the Rev. Father in preparation for a program that we are going to have on that day. Shortly after I got to the junction of the church, I was hearing sporadic gunshots with police vehicle moving around the town”. He said during cross examination by the defence counsel who asked if he’s aware that there was Ogun festival which made the Government to draft policemen to the town.
“He stressed further that, immediately I got to the Rev. Father, one of my relatives called me on the phone that I should come but I couldn’t understand what he was saying, later they brought a vehicle and they persuaded me to follow them which I did and the Rev. Father took his own vehicle and followed us, getting to where my wife was buying food I met her lifeless body on the floor with Madam Bejide still Unconscious, and i then fainted”.he said sobbing.
“The time I left house and the period I came back was too short to believe what I saw”, he explained .
He testified further that, he saw bullets hole at the ear of the wife where the bullets entered, they took her to the police station but the station was locked, she was later taken to the hospital, the place was also deserted, there was blood all over my wife's body"
Olusegun crying called on the panel to assist him on how he would take care of the two children, Benedict Akinjuwon Olusegun, Male and Jomiloju Christy Olusegun, female he said in is own words” I want help for these children to survive, ( pointing to them in the panel room), they could be great leaders tomorrow, please, I beg you, do all you can for me for a life support for this children, I will be happy, N30 Million is not too big, I just need money to care for them”.Olusegun said
In another case of Rev. Rufus Adu vs Unknown persons, the petitioner was requesting for compensation for his Motorcycle bought in 2019 for N230,000 which was stolen from the Afao Police Station, Ikere Ekiti on 20th October, 2020 during the ENDSARS protest.
He said that Inspector Benjamin seized the Motorcycle from Mr Sunday Olowo upon his complaints at the police station that Mr. Sunday Olowo was owing him N80,900 over the money he gave him to settle his debt due on the motorcycle.
He explained further that Sunday Olowo agreed to pay the money within two days and Inspector Benjamin took possession of the Motorcycle at the station but was surprised that after the ENDSARS protests in the town that the Motorcycle has disappeared from where it was parked in the Station.
Omokhua Benjamin, a Police Officer serving at Afao Police Station, admitted that he took the custody of the Motorcycle on 16th October, 2020 based on the complaints of Rev. Rufus Adu as Mr Sunday Olowo promised to bring the money the next day.
On 20th October, 2020, during the ENDSARS protest, the Motorcycle was stolen from the station, he however admitted that the case was a civil case under cross examinations.
The Chairman of the panel, Justice Cornelius Akintayo after hearing these cases adjourned seven other cases appropriately for further hearing as agreed by all parties.