Court Summons Police IG, Others Over Lagos Hotelier’s Death

An Ikeja High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the Inspector General of Police and Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, to appear before it over an alleged compromise in investigation.

Justice Taiwo Oladokun made the order following an affidavit of urgency filed by the family of the late Alaba Bakare, owner of Bama Hotel and Suite.

He was allegedly murdered on January 24 by his wife, Motunrayo.

Olufemi, father and Taiwo, mother of the deceased in a suit No. ID/5818GCM/2022, through their counsel, Mr Olusegun Raji, prayed the court to summon the I-G and others.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the respondents in the suit include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Lagos State DPP, IGP, AIG Zone 2 Police Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos and the commissioner of police, Lagos State.

Others are the Deputy Commissioner of Police State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos and the Divisional Police Officer, Elere Police Station.

Raji prayed the court to order the I-G and others to carry out proper investigation on the death of their son because the police officer(s) designated to carry out the investigation, allegedly compromised.

Raji prayed the court to compel the third to seven defendants by way of mandamus to carry out proper autopsy on the corpse of the deceased in the presence of both the deceased’s family, hired pathologist and the pathologist to be hired by the deceased’s wife, within a reasonable period of time from the day the application was effected.

“We pray this court to mandate the first and second defendant to produce a qualified pathologist to witness the autopsy to be carried out on the lifeless body of the deceased.

“We also urge the court to direct the defendants to re-investigate and prosecute the deceased’s wife and her cousin, one Taye, alias Tycoon together with other alleged persons with the available circumstantial evidence with or without the autopsy report,” he said.

Justice Oladokun adjourned hearing until July 15 for a report of proof of service on the third and fourth respondents.