20 August 2008
Lagos — Management of Leaders and Company Limited, publishers of ThisDay Newspaper, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro to order a thorough investigation into the death of a member of its editorial board, late Mr. Abayomi Ogundeji.
In a letter addressed to the Police boss by the company's Managing Director, Mr. Eniola Bello, the Late Mr. Abayomi Ogundeji.
company said: "This is to bring to your attention today's lead story of Nigerian Compass Newspaper. According to the newspaper, a resident who witnessed Mr. Abayomi Ogundeji's murder said the deceased was shot by policemen.
"This reinforces our suspicion that there is more to Mr. Ogundeji's death than what the public has been made to believe that he was killed by armed robbers.
We're counting on you to order a thorough investigation of this matter."
Meanwhile, the company's Chief Security Officer who related the circumstances of late Ogundeji's death said: "I wish to inform you that on 18th August 2008 at about 0638hrs, One Mr. Omotosho with Phone No. 08054722629 phoned from Police Control room to inform me that one of our Editor-Journalist was involved in an assassination incident.
What? I exclaimed. What is his name?
He said his name is not complete but Paul is one of his names. I said I could not realy identify who the Paul might be, because we have several officers bearing Paul. He should try and get other names. He said the person is riding in a KIA Jeep. What is the registration number, he said he could not get the registration, but the registration number starts with BM.
He said the incident happened somewhere at Alimosho area but since Police Command there did not respond in good time, Idimu Police Command responded quickly and they are handling the matter. I asked him to help me get in touch with Idimu Police Station to confirm the full names of the victim so that I can inform my Management accordingly.
At about 0756hrs I phoned Mr Omotosho to give me the full names of the victim, he gave the full names of the victim as ABAYOMI OGUNDEJI PAUL.
As soon as I first received the phone call with half information I phoned to inform MD, THISDAY, MD-Leaders & Co and Director Admin & HR.
At about 0915hrs I left the office to Idimu Police Station to confirm the incident before I can brief the Management accordingly.
On my arrival at Idimu Police Station premises, I observed two Jeeps parked near each other infront of their car park. One of the Jeeps was bearing registration No BM 316 AKD - KIA Sportage Black colour and my attention was drawn to it immediately.
One Police Officer in plain cloth was inspecting the Jeep and I drew near to him and greeted him. He said are you here in respect of this man? I said yes. Ah, sorry.
He began to show me and Mr Lanne who accompanied me to the Station, you can see his brain on the floor, you can see the pieces of his flesh on the back seat. He said, one thing people should know is that the police men standing on the road are all human being. We are here on a "PIN-DOWN" that is a check point. We flaged him down to stop, but he refused to stop. Soon after he left our place he ran into Armed robbers. Infact he was asked to wind down the glasses of his car, he refused. At this point other people came around and asked him to go to the office and he left us. He did not disclose his name before he left.
From there, I went to see the DPO and he received us looking very worried. Infact he showed us rice in his food flask that he cannot eat because of the incident.
The DPO Mr. Johnson asked if I was there to interview him, I said No. That I was there to confirm the incident involving one of our staff. He said I have done all I could to save his life but couldn't. I asked him what really happened? He said the man as shot. How was he shot? no answer. He got up and said that he has been called by DC Panti to go and meet him at Ikeja Hospital immediately. That he was asked to use Okada. He said he needed two Okada's to carry him and the IPO to Ikeja to meet with the DC.
I offered to go with him in our vehicle but he said no while walking away. I followed him to give me his phone number which he gave as 0802300991. But one of his officers said to me, that if the number is not correct, I should go to their Board and take the correct number. The number on the Board reads - 08023310991.
As he left in a hurry on Okada, I returned to the office, to brief the management.
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