Falana, Keyamo seek probe of pupil killed by policemen

Afeez Hanafi

Two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Femi Falana and Festus Keyamo, have called for detailed investigations into the death of a 16-year-old pupil, Emmanuel Chukwu, who was allegedly shot dead by policemen at the Ijora Badia Police Station.

While Keyamo requested that a test be carried out to verify the police’s denial of the shooting, Falana promised that his chambers would take up the matter pro bono to get justice for the victim’s parents.

PUNCH Metro had reported that Chukwu, a Senior Secondary School 2 pupil at Randle Secondary School, Apapa, was outside his parents’ residence – a stone’s throw to the station – when one of the bullets allegedly fired at some protesters by the police hit him.

The state police command’s spokesperson, Chike Oti, had said the protesters attacked the police station with guns and explosives, adding that the protesters shot Chukwu.

But the human rights lawyer, Falana, on Wednesday said there was the need for thorough investigations into the killing and asked the victim’s parents to petition the state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi.

He said, “Under the Lagos State human rights regime, every unnatural death has to be investigated by a coroner appointed by the chief coroner. We are going to explore that possibility and ensure that an inquest is conducted to unravel the cause of death.”

Keyamo said the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department should take over the case.

“A complete ballistic report on the bullet that killed the boy should be conducted so that if they (the police) are telling lies, they can easily be faulted. This boy cannot die for nothing,” he added.

The President, Right Monitoring Group, Femi Aduwo, described Chukwu’s death as “sad and barbaric” and called on the state government to wade into the case.

  Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: theeditor@punchng.com

 

source http://punchng.com/falana-keyamo-seek-probe-of-pupil-killed-by-policemen/