The magistrate court sitting at Yaba, Lagos, has remanded Samuel Phillips, the police sergeant dismissed over his alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of Monsurat Ojuade, an 18-year-old girl. Announcing the sacking of Phillips, the Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu in a statement of Friday said Phillips was dismissed after the conclusion of his orderly room trial. “The suspect will be charged to court for murder,” he added. The statement reads: “This is to inform the general public that Sgt Samuel Phillips who was tried for the shooting incident of 11th September 2021 that led to the death of Monsurat Ojuade has been dismissed from the Nigerian Police Force. He was dismissed after the conclusion of his orderly room trial. The suspect will be charged to court today for murder. “Recall that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had promised that the matter would be properly investigated.
Ojuade, an admission seeker was allegedly hit by a stray bullet from Sgt Phillips.
It was gathered that the event happened when a team of anti-robbery officers from the SCIID reportedly stormed Mogaji Street, Ijesha, Surulere in the evening of Friday, September 10.
Meanwhile, counsel for the Ojuade family, Isreal Mbaebie, while speaking at the end of the proceedings said that the Command should make known its findings to the public.
The lawyer expressed dissatisfaction at the supposed hasty arraignment of the suspect at Yaba Magistrates’ court today.
According to Mbaebie, while their clients’ demands have been totally ignored if not snubbed by the police, they have gone ahead to fix the arraignment of the alleged killer cop and only informed them just about 12 hours prior to the said arraignment.
“Our clients frown at this disrespectful and lackadaisical attitude of the police and also wonder how it has been easier for them to organise an orderly room trial of the so-called killer police, without making public their findings to date,” the lawyer said.
He thereby promised that the gruesome and brutal murder of late Monsurat Ojuade can never be swept under the carpet, declaring that they must ensure that she and her family get the justice they deserve and desire.
