Police delaying prosecution of LASTMA official’s killers, Lagos govt alleges

Adeniji Kazeem
Kazeem

The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, has asked the police to without further delay fish out the killers of a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer, Olatunji Bakare, Vanguard has reported.

Bakare was brutally killed by an irate mob in Apapa on December 15, 2016.

Mr. Kazeem has already petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits.

The development was sequel to the failure of the police to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act, 19 days after the incident despite the fact that the video had already gone viral on the internet with faces of the culprits clearly shown.

Bakare, a level 14 officer, was attacked by the irate mob that removed his two eyes and stabbed him before he was stoned to death.

In a letter dated December 28, 2016, a copy of which was obtained by Vanguard, Kazeem said it was important for the police to promptly fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act and turn them in to face necessary legal action.

“The late Bakare was a LASTMA official who was in Apapa area of the State performing his lawful duties and it was in exercising this duty that he was attacked and murdered by persons that have apparently been visually recorded and circulated on social media.

“This crime is clearly an affront to civilization and the sustenance of law and order which the administration of Governor Ambode, has sworn to uphold.

“The Lagos State Government demands that the perpetrators of this dastardly crime be arrested, investigated and the case file promptly sent to this office for Legal Advice,” Kazeem said.

He added that his office, as usual, would be available to provide any assistance required by the police, but requested that the matter be treated with the urgency that it demands.