Falana seeks coroner’s inquest into murder of 18-year-old girl

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, has asked a Lagos high court in Ikeja to conduct a coroner’s inquest into the murder of Monsurat Ojuade, the 18-year-old girl who was killed during a police raid.

TheCable had reported that the 18-year-old was shot last Friday night at Mogaji Street, Ijesha, Surulere, during a raid by operatives of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department on the axis.

Tosin Ojuade, the deceased’s sister, had alleged that one of the officers tried to force the gate open from the outside and fired shots into the compound, and the bullet hit the deceased on her two thighs.

The victim was said to have been taken to Randle Hospital in Surulere, where she was briefly treated and referred to Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital.

A resident had alleged that the late Ojuade was not attended to at Igbobi hospital because those around said they were on strike, adding that the girl died when she was taken to another hospital.

The police claimed that the deceased was hit by a stray bullet, adding that the “erring police officer” had been detained and arrested, but the family insisted that the victim was shot at close range.

Falana, in a letter, addressed to the chief coroner of Lagos high court, Ikeja, signed by one Taiwo Olawanle, asked the court to conduct “an inquest into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death” of the deceased.

“Our attention has been drawn to the brutal killing of late Monsurat Ojuade by policemen attached to State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos on the 11th September 2021,” the letter reads.

“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 the 11th September 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 of the said Monsurat Ojuade and we are confident that Your Lordship will accede to our request with utmost urgency.”