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3rd October, 2009.
The Inspector-General of Police,
Force Headquarters,
Louis Edet House,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,
A CALL FOR FULL SCALE INVESTIGATION INTO
THE BRUTAL MURDER OF CHIEF MICHAEL
ATUORA AND SERGENT HARRISON AJAYI
AIGBOBO ON THE 1ST DAY OF
OCTOBER, 2009 BY POLICE INSPECROR TAHIRU
ALI (ATTACHED TO ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA
COUNCIL), INSPECTOR HABILA MAIKEFI
(ATTACHED TO THE OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR
GENERAL OF POLICE,) AND CONSTABLE
SOLOMON MAIKEFI (ATTACHED TO 44 P.M.F
FORCE HEADQUARTERS ABUJA).
We are Solicitors to the families of
late Chief Michael Atuora (Ogazi 1 of
Nise) and Sgnt Harrison Ajayi Aigbobo,(hereinafter
referred to as “our Clients”) and on
whose instruction we write this letter.
Our clients informed us that Chief
Michael Atuora (hereinafter referred to
as 1st deceased) was until
his gruesome murder on the 1st
day of October, 2009 the Ogazi I of Nise
in Awka South L.G.A of
Anambra State and the Managing Director
of Barrywhite Furniture Limited with its
head office in Abuja.
It is also our brief that Sgnt. Harrison
Ajayi Aigbobo (Hereinafter referred to
as 2nd deceased) until his
brutal assassination on the date
mentioned above was attached to the
Operations Section (OPS) F.C.T Police
Command,
Abuja and is from Ekpoma, Esan West L.G.
A in
Edo
State.
FACTS
Our clients informed us that Chief
Michael Atuora had on that faithful day
gone in company of his friends; Chukwuma
Ajala, Paul Ekedi, and Kelechukwu Akupue
to “Spotless Bar” located at Nyanya,
Abuja and managed by Rosemary Nwosu for
a dinner in commemoration of Nigeria’s
49th Independence
Anniversary.
We were further informed by our clients
that it was while they were in the said
bar around 9.15p.m that the
owner/manager of the bar informed the
Chief Michael Atuora that some people
were complaining about his car and were
trying to deflect the tires of his
vehicle packed opposite the bar.
That on hearing this, the 1st
deceased rushed to where his car was
packed and was heard apologizing to the
people trying to deflect the tire of his
car but instead of accepting his
apology, one of the men slapped him and
held onto his shirt collar. The said man
was later identified to be Inspector
Tahiru Ali, a police officer attached to
Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)
Whilst still holding the shirt collar of
the 1stdeceased, the said
Inspector Tahiru used the dagger he was
using to deflect the tire and stabbed
the 1st Deceased.
It was at this point that people on the
other side (including the 2nd
deceased who was also in the bar) sensed
there was danger and rushed over to the
scene.
Our clients further informed us that
whilst the duo of Chukwuma Ajala, and
Paul Ekedi tried to hold Inspector
Tahiru Ali, from inflicting more
injuries on the 1st deceased,
the 2nd deceased tried to
pacify the associate of Inspector Tahiru
Ali later identified as Inspector Habila
Maikefi attached to the office of
Inspector General of Police, Force
Headquarters,
Abuja.
But instead of listening to the voice of
a fellow police officer, the said
Inspector Maikefi ordered a subordinate
(on top of his voice) to get him his
gun. When the 2nd deceased
sensed danger, he tried using his cell
phone to make a call.
Some minutes later whilst the 2nd
deceased was still trying to make a call
with his cell phone, the Subordinate of
Inspector Maikefi appeared armed with a
gun and shot into the air for the first
time but Inspector Maikefi commanded him
to shoot at people. It was then that he
aimed and shot Sgt. Harrison Ajayi
Aigbobo who fell into the gutter. He
fired again and got Chief Michael Atuora.
Others ran to the nearby compound except
Paul Ekedi who pretended to be already
dead to avoid the killers’ bullet. The
gunman was later identified to be Police
Constable Solomon Maikefi attached to 44
P.M.F and a brother to Inspector Habila
Maikefi.
Our clients also informed us that while
this was happening, Mr. Rosemary Nwosu
ran to the nearest mobile police unit to
report the incident. Men from the mobile
police unit came immediately to the
scene. But upon sighting the mobile
policemen, Constable Solomon Maikefi ran
away and Inspector Tahiru Ali stabbed
himself with the dagger which he used in
stabbing the 1st deceased.
It is also our brief that when the
mobile policemen arrived the scene the 2nd
Deceased was still breathing but the
plea of Chukwuma Ajala that he should be
taken to the hospital immediately fell
on deaf ears.
PRAYER/CONCLUSION
It is based on the above stated facts
that our clients instruct us to request
and we hereby request for the following:
(a)
Full scale investigation should be
immediately launched into the murder of
the two deceased persons to be directly
supervised by your good office.
(b)
Immediate arrest and prosecution of
those involved in the murder of the two
deceased persons.
(c)
Provision of adequate security for eye
witnesses and protection of all
instruments/weapons (Exhibits) used in
the perpetuation of the murder.
(d)
Actions should be commenced towards the
compensation of the families of the
deceased persons.
It is regrettable that weapons purchased
with tax payers money and meant solely
for their protection is now being used
for their destruction.
Permit us to state that your assumption
of office as Inspector-General of Police
brought enormous confidence in the heart
of Nigerians towards the police, it is
our hope that you will confirm this
confidence reposed in you by Nigerians
by causing a full scale investigation
into this ugly incident and bringing all
those involved in this crude and brutal
act to book no matter how highly placed.
We expect that you will not fail
Nigerians.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
For: Festus Keyamo Chambers
EZEKIEL UGOCHUKWU, ESQ. ALEXANDER
OKETA, ESQ.
Counsel
Counsel
CC:
1.
Chairman, Police Service Commission.
2.
Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice.
3.
The Commissioner of Police
F.C.T Command.
4. Chairman,
House Committee on Police
Affairs,
House of Representatives of
the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.
5. Chairman,
Senate Committee on Police
Affairs,
Senate of the Federal Republic
of Nigeria.
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