Mr Ade Ipaye, Lagos State Attorney General, has disclosed that a policeman who allegedly shot a protester to death during Monday’s nationwide protest against the removal of?petrol subsidy will be prosecuted.
The policeman allegedly shot the youth to death and injured three others in Ogba area of Lagos on Monday.
Ipaye said on telephone that the Ministry of Justice was still waiting for the conclusion of police investigations on the incident.
He said: “It is unfortunate. I obviously would not want to go by the story in the media. I am actually waiting to see the report of the investigation.
“I am glad that the Commissioner of Police said they have actually apprehended the alleged culprit and that they were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“As soon as they conclude that investigation, we will be willing to prosecute”.
While reassuring members of the public to remain calm over the incident, Ipaye said the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) would prompt the police to conclude its investigation on time.
“We know that somebody was killed, somebody has been apprehended. But we need to know the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
“On the other hand, the Police need to speed up the investigation so that we will be able to prosecute the officer as soon as possible”, he added.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, on Tuesday warned that Civil Society Lawyers might go to the International War Crimes Tribunal (IWCT) if police officers responsible for killings during the ongoing anti-subsidy protests were not brought to book.
Similarly, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), has urged the Inspector-General of Police to direct State Police Commissioners where killings have taken?place, to publish names of officers involved.
Unconfirmed?reports say?that about eight persons?were allegedly killed by the police in various parts of the federation during confrontations with protesters on Monday.
Aturu told NAN in an interview that civil rights lawyers, including himself, would go to the tribunal if they do not get a fiat from the Attorney General to prosecute the killers.
“We demand a fiat from the Attorney General that will allow Civil Society Lawyers to prosecute those allegedly responsible for the killing of these innocent Nigerians.
“We do not trust the states for such prosecution. We will drag the Police and the Attorney General to the IWCT if we are denied the fiat,” he said.
Aturu described the killings as “satanic, indefensible, illegal and unconstitutional”.
Also, the Lagos State Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Mr Ehi Omokhuale,?asked that the Police?name the?officers allegedly involved in the killings.
“We need to know the names of the officers and their service numbers to enable us monitor and make sure they are brought to book.
“CLO intends to monitor these cases to?their logical conclusions,” he said.
He said, however, that the killings would not deter protesters.
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