Chief Tony Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has condemned the killing of a female lawyer Barrister Bolanle Raheem by a policeman in Ajah Lagos State.
The Chief Ojukwu, OFR, while reacting to the killing of the lawyer on Christmas day, described the incident as regrettable and demanded that the Police authorites should carry out speedy investigation and prosecution to serve as deterrent to other law enforcement agents.
According to a statement Tuesday, by Hajiya Fatimah Agwai Mohammed, Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs and External Linkages, which was sent to NationWide, the Chief Human Rights Officer added that the killer of the promising lawyer, has fallen short of the standard operating procedure and professional ethics of the Nigerian Police Force.
He called in the hierarchy of the Nigerian Police to as a matter of necessity always ensure that officers who bear arms must, by all means be mentally balanced and respect the rules of engagement of the police force saying enough is enough of these avoidable deaths.
Ojukwu recalled that the Commission went around the country to train police officers on human rights best practices and how to mainstream human rights in law enforcement operations, saying regrettably- “yet we are still recording sad incidents of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the police officers.”
While commending the High police command for immediately taking necessary action to arrest and put the errant officer in custody, Ojukwu said the Commission will continue to monitor the process of investigation and prosecution of the officer to ensure that justice is adequately served.
He used the opportunity to commiserate with the family of Barrister Bolanle Raheem, as well as the Nigerian Bar Association, adding that Barrister Raheem’s death came as a shock to the Commission.
Ojukwu added that there must be a permanent solution to check this form of avoidable killings by the police.
According to him, it is unfortunate to know that the Commission has recorded several incidents of extrajudicial killings by the police and vowed to do all within its powers to ensure that these cases are not swept under the carpet.