Osogbo-based Lawyer Abdulfatai Abdulsalam has demanded the release of three State Security Services (SSS) agents operating in the state.
Abdulsalam’s claim follows the coroner’s inquest recommendations that looked into the death of a police officer, Rauf Fawale.
In a petition to the National Human Rights Commission, Abdulsalam claimed that the coroner who looked into the circumstances of Fawale’s death had implicated the three SSS agents in the assault on the police officer.
Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, the state commissioner of police, and the assistant inspector general of police at zone XI headquarters in Osogbo all received copies of the appeal.
Abdulsalam recalled that on March 7, 2022, the immediate past Governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, made an order of coroner inquest to unearth the cause of the death of Fawale which occurred on January 23, 2021.
“Between March 23 and October 24, 2022, the coroner, Dr Olusegun Ayilara conducted sittings and recommended that there should be proper investigation of the events that resulted in Fawale’s death.
“The coroner in his recommendations, directed that the three SSS operatives involved should be released to the police for further investigation.
“Since the coroner concluded his probe in October, 2022, the SSS has refused to comply with the order, and declined release of the operatives mentioned for further probe.
“That the Nigeria Police which is the primary investigating authority in crime shall reopen the case and invite all necessary parties for holistic investigation of the case.
“The Department of State Security shall release the trio to the police for proper investigation.
“The report of investigation of the police shall be submitted to the office of the learned DPP of Osun State for a decision to be made on whether to charge and/or who to charge to the appropriate court and in strict accordance with the provision of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Osun State, 2018.
“It is astonishing to note that, to this moment, the Department of State Service (DSS).
“Osun State Command has not complied with the above verdict of CORONER INQUEST by releasing the three officers involved to the police for proper investigation.
“We attach to this letter, the complete Judgement of the Coroner’s Court of Osun state delivered in October 2022 by Dr Olusegun A Ayilara, Chief Magistrate Gd I (Corona) and consider this letter as a legal service of the judgement of the Director of Security Service.
“It is on this note we demand for the Department of State Security of Service (DSS) to release the officers involved to the police for proper investigation as recommended in the verdict of the CORONA INQUEST.
“This request (at the moment) deserves an urgent positive reaction because the verdict of CORONA was delivered since October 2022.”