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PointBlank Exclusive: Youth Killed at Close Range Not a Thief…He is a Graduate of Benin Republic University, Corps Member Serving in Kogi, Says Family
The family of one the boys shot and killed on Tuesday by policemen at close range at the Igando area for allegedly stealing phones, is not a thief, his close family members has revealed to PointBlank.
The young man, whose name was given as Ayodele Gabriel Solana, is reportedly a youth Corp member, serving in Kogi State.
Speaking to PointBlank, the sister of the deceased, Seun Solana, said that her brother was victim of setup. While narrating the event that led to his brother’s cold blooded murder amid tears, Solaja said that the very policeman that shot and killed him was known to everyone in the area. She gave his name as Omo, saying that’s the name they know him with.
“My brother was in the house when someone came to call him out. Everybody had thought it was the usual police raiding which Omo and his boys were always doing in the area. They always come around, arrest some boys, and release them after collecting money from them.
“We don’t understand why they manhandled him and consequently shot him.”
When asked why the policemen singled out the boy and the other to kill, she said it could be because Ayodele was always opposing them when they come for raiding.
“You know, he is a corper, and was always against the extortion being perpetrated by the policemen. I assume they mark him out.
“Again, we hear that Omo, the policeman is a cult member, a member of one confraternity, who was really on police assignment but cult assignment to eliminate perceived enemies,” she said.
Meanwhile, the family said it has consulted their lawyer, and the matter will soon form a subject of litigation.
Efforts to reach the lawyer, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, who was a former Chairman of Ikeja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, has so far proved abortive.
We hear also that a press conference is being arranged to inform the public of the latest move.
The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (NWC) has suspended the National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; Deputy Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organizing Secretary, Umaru Bature for one month.
The suspension comes on the heels of the judgement of the Federal High Court On Friday, which stopped the party’s planned national convention.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told journalists in Abuja on Saturday, that the decision followed an emergency meeting of the national working committee, which was held in Abuja.
President Donald Trump of the United States on Friday designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), in response to allegations of widespread persecution and genocide against Christians.
Writing on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that Christianity faces a serious threat in Nigeria.
The US leader also added Nigeria to a State Department watch list.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote.
According to the US president, he was placing Nigeria, Africa’s top oil producer and most populous nation, on a “Countries of Particular Concern” list of nations the US deems to have engaged in religious freedom violations.
According to the State Department’s website, the list includes China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, and Pakistan, among others.
Trump said he had asked US Representatives Riley Moore and Tom Cole, as well as the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee, to look into the matter and report back to him.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Hon. Abubakar Gummi from the House of Representatives after he left the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.
The lawmaker represented the Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in Zamfara State.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the ruling, holding that Gummi’s defection breached the Constitution.
The court said the seat does not belong to any politician but to the political party that sponsored the election.
According to the judgment, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, is barred from recognising Gummi “as a member representing Gummi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency.”
The judge also instructed the Independent National Electoral Commission to “conduct a fresh election” for the vacant seat within 30 days.
The case was instituted by the PDP and its Zamfara chairman, who insisted that Gummi’s move to the APC had no legal justification. They argued that there was no division in the PDP to support his defection, as required by Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution.
Gummi, through his counsel, claimed he left the PDP due to internal crises which he said made it “impossible” to serve his constituents effectively. The judge, however, dismissed his arguments and granted all the reliefs requested by the plaintiffs.
Justice Egwuatu, in a firm comment, warned politicians against what he described as reckless party hopping.
“Political prostitution must not be rewarded,” he declared, adding that lawmakers must not transfer votes won on one party’s platform to another party.
The court also ordered Gummi to refund all salaries and allowances received from October 30, 2024, until the date of judgment. He is also barred from earning any further benefits as a member of the House.
Additionally, the judge imposed a N500,000 cost against the defendants in favour of the PDP.
