By Yusuf Boluwatife
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has requested a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja to conduct a corona inquest into the circumstances surrounding the killing of an 18-year-old admission seeker, Monsura Ojuade.
BlackBox Nigeria had reported that teenager was reportedly hit by a police stray bullet when anti-robbery officers from the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, stormed her community, last Friday.
The victim got hit while standing in front of her parents’ house on Mogaji Street, Surulere. A bullet penetrated her two thighs, and she was immediately drenched in blood. She was reportedly rushed to a private hospital in the community but got rejected, and later died.
According to The PUNCH, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, had said the cops were in the community to arrest a robbery suspect, adding that the policeman who pulled the trigger had been detained and investigation is ongoing.
In a letter dated September 13, 2021, and addressed to the Chief Coroner, High Court of Lagos State, Falana & Falana Chambers, appealed to the court to accede to its request for the inquest with utmost urgency. The letter was signed by one Taiwo Olawanle.
“From the information at our disposal, the late Monsurat Ojuade was hit by a stray bullet during a raid at the Ijeshatedo area of Lagos State on September 11, 2021 when a team of policemen from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, went to the area.
“Unfortunately Monsurat Ojuade passed on while being taken to the hospital for urgent medical attention. Having regards to the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident, we hereby request Your Lordship to conduct an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death,” it reads in part.
