Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has reacted sharply to the decision of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to clear four police officers and a property developer, Abiodun Ariori, who were initially linked to the killing of six traders during a violent land enforcement operation in Owode Onirin, Kosofe area of Lagos State.
The decision to release the suspects followed legal advice issued by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which concluded that there was insufficient evidence to sustain charges of manslaughter or any related felony against them. The DPP further stated that the available material did not establish a direct causal link between the accused persons and the deaths of the traders.
The incident, which occurred during the enforcement of a disputed land claim, had led to the arrest of four police officers identified as Musa Bala, Ahmed Abass, Ibrahim Kasimu, and Ibrahim Garba, alongside Ariori, a developer who allegedly engaged the officers from Nasarawa State to assist in executing a court-backed eviction on the property.
The operation escalated into a deadly confrontation when traders occupying the land resisted the enforcement exercise. Six traders lost their lives in the ensuing chaos. The deceased were identified as Adeoye Taiwo, Akinloye Seyi, Wale Adebayo, Abraham Idowu, Dare Salaudeen, and Adeoye Akeem.
Following their arrest, the suspects were initially detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos before being transferred to Abuja during the course of investigations. However, after reviewing the case file, the DPP issued legal advice stating that the officers acted in self-defence while responding to what was described as a mob attack from the traders.
In the legal opinion signed by DPP Babajide Martins, the prosecution office argued that the investigation lacked critical forensic evidence required to sustain a criminal charge. It noted the absence of key materials such as autopsy reports, ballistic analysis, and firearms examination results that could definitively link the suspects to the deaths.
The DPP concluded that based on the available evidence, there was no prima facie case against the suspects, leading to the decision not to prosecute them for felony or involuntary manslaughter under the relevant provisions of the Lagos State Criminal Law.
However, the decision has been challenged by the Nigeria Police Force. In a formal response, Deputy Commissioner of Police Dayo Akinbisehin, who oversees the State Criminal Investigation Department, insisted that the investigation had yielded sufficient evidence to support prosecution.
He maintained that the police had obtained autopsy and ballistic reports which, in their view, connected the suspects to the deaths of the traders. According to him, the findings were strong enough to justify a trial and should prompt the DPP to reconsider its earlier legal advice.
The police further argued that proceeding with prosecution would reinforce the rule of law and demonstrate commitment to justice, public safety, and protection of lives and property.
Amid the conflicting positions between the DPP and the police, human rights lawyer Femi Falana has entered the debate, strongly criticising the decision to release the suspects. He described the development as deeply concerning and pledged to pursue further legal action.
Falana stated that his legal team would present additional evidence to the DPP in an effort to reopen the case and ensure that all facts are properly examined. He also confirmed plans to initiate civil proceedings on behalf of the families of the deceased traders.
According to him, the killing of the six unarmed traders cannot be dismissed without full judicial scrutiny, insisting that the matter must be pursued to its logical conclusion in the interest of justice.
He also emphasised that beyond criminal proceedings, the families of the victims are entitled to compensation, which he intends to seek through civil litigation.
The DPP has not issued further public comments on the matter, with officials reportedly directing inquiries to its press office.
The case has drawn wider public attention due to its implications for law enforcement conduct during land disputes in Lagos, where clashes between enforcement teams, private interests, and local occupants have occasionally resulted in violence.
Legal observers note that the divergence between the police findings and the DPP’s advice highlights ongoing tensions in Nigeria’s criminal justice process, particularly in cases involving state actors and questions of accountability.
As the matter stands, the suspects remain cleared of criminal liability, but the possibility of renewed legal action by the victims’ families and civil rights advocates means the case is unlikely to fade from public scrutiny anytime soon.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments