From Jimoh Joseph, Ado-Ekiti
The Police in Ekiti State yesterday dismissed a police corporal, Ayodele Famodimu, who allegedly shot a commercial driver, named Olabode Ojo dead at a checkpoint in Oye-Ekiti Tuesday evening.
Famodimu was dismissed after undergoing an orderly room trial. He also
appeared in court on Thursday and was remanded in prison custody.
The dismissed corporal shot Ojo dead for refusing his demand for a gratification of N50 at the checkpoint.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Alberto Adeyemi who confirmed
Famodimu’s dismissal said policemen are not trained to kill civilian
but to defend lives and property.
Adeyemi said: “He (Famodimu) has already been dismissed and as I am
talking to you now, he is an ex-policeman. The case is now in court
and we have handed everything over to court to decide his fate.
“We did not train him to go and kill law-abiding citizens, we trained
him to safeguard lives and property. Any of his ilk that goes against
the law will face the music.”
Famodimu was arraigned before an Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court
where he was slammed with the charge of murder.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Johnson Okunade, brought a remand order
to the court. He said there was cause to order the remand of the
accused in custody for a reasonable length of time.
Okunade said the accused was suspected to have committed the offence
of the murder of a driver, Olabode Ojo and attempted murder of Azeez
Ayodimeji.
The offence, according to him, was punishable under Sections 319 and
324 of Criminal Code Cap C16 Laws of Ekiti State 2012.
He said the accused person committed the offence while in possession
of offensive weapons and was arrested with exhibits and was identified
by witnesses.
Defence counsel, Mr. Sunday Ochayi, did not oppose the remand order
but said the remand order was an aftermath of negligence.
Ochayi described the defendant as a police office officer who was
negligent in line of his duty. He asked for adjournment to enable him
study the case file.
Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye, ordered the remand of the accused
person in prison custody.
Adegboye adjourned the case to 28th December for mention.