Daily Independent (Lagos)
Wale Igbintade
6 July 2009
Lagos — Lawyers and other human rights activists have expressed concern over the safety of the Provost of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, John Obafunwa, a pathologist, following the assassination of a key witness in the Coroner's inquest on the death of journalist Abayomi Ogundeji.
The witness, Tunmise, a lady, was gunned down last month in Sagamu, Ogun State. A joint statement issued on Sunday by the Nigerian Bar Association Human Rights Institute (NBAHRI), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and Amnesty International urged the state government to ensure that Obafunwa and other witnesses are given protection during and after the inquest.
The statement asked Lagos to review and strengthen immediately the protection provided Obafunwa and his family, and others involved in the inquest who are at risk.
It wants the measures to continue after the inquest when they could still be at risk of reprisal.
"It is essential that the national justice system provides for comprehensive protection and support services conducted by persons with expertise in the field.
"In particular, it should be clear who is responsible for providing protection and support, that they have the necessary expertise to perform their functions, that effective systems are in place to provide protection and support to victims and witnesses and that adequate resources are available," the group urged.
Ogundeji, who was a member of the Editorial Board of ThisDay Newspapers, was killed in the Dopemu are of Lagos on August 17 last year.
His family counsel, Bamidele Ogundele, informed the Yaba District Coroner's Court on June 30 that Tunmise had been assassinated.
The news came as Obafunwa expressed concern over his safety.
Ogundele told Senior Magistrate, Mukaila Fadeyi, that Tunmise was in the vehicle in which Ogundeji was shot and killed, that she would have provided first hand account of the incident.
He said Tunmise, who lived in Sagamu, was allegedly approached by police officers who wanted to forcefully take her to Lagos for interrogation.
Tunmise and her parents refused and the matter was reported at the Sagamu police station where it was resolved that she should not be taken by force.
Two days later, she was assassinated.
Fadeyi reiterated that the inquest is to put an end to killings, noting that if a key witness such as Tunmise could be assassinated, it would be difficult for other witnesses to testify in court.
He issued a bench warrant on the Assistant Commissioner of Police who was DPO in Dopemu when Ogundeji's death was reported and investigated.
He also issued a warrant on Mr. and Mrs. Suraju Azeez Folarin for refusing an order requesting their appearance in court.
Ogundeji's sister, Bose, a post-graduate student at the University of Ibadan, narrated in court that on August 16 last year, she went to his home in the Ikotun area of Lagos and had lunch with him and members of his family.
After the lunch, Ogundeji informed her that he would be going to Ikeja to see his friend, Tunji Bolaji, the Editor of Saturday Nation.
She said she followed him in his car and alighted in Dopemu beside Tower Aluminium, and that was the last time she saw him alive.
Nonetheless, Obafunwa told the court that the Lagos Government is unwilling to finance the ballistic analysis in the United States to determine the source of bullet extracted from Ogundeji's body.
The inquest arose from a request by the counsel for the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Femi Falana, who had on August 22 last year sent a petition to Lagos Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Olasupo Sasore, claiming that Ogundeji was killed in a violent and suspicious manner.
The court was adjourned to July 7.
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