Following the dismissal of Sergeant Samuel Phillips from the Nigeria Police Force, a Yaba Chief Magistrate Court has ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The ex-police officer was charged before the court on a one-count charge of murder preferred against him by the police.
The case was adjourned by Chief Magistrate Mrs Adeola Adedayo to October 25, pending the DPP’s advice.
According to the lawyer to the family of the deceased, Mr Israel Mbaebie, they received a call from the Police very late on Thursday, 23, 2021, that the alleged Killer of late Monsurat Ojuade, Sergeant Samuel Philips, will be arraigned at Yaba Magistrates’ Court, on Friday, 24 September, 2021.
He said “It will will however, be recalled that we had earlier written a Letter to the Lagos State Police Commissioner dated 20th September, 2021, wherein our clients demanded that the true identity of the said Sergeant Samuel Philips be made pubic and that the “stray bullet” narrative be changed to reflect the true position of things which is to the effect that the bullet that killed Monsurat Ojuade was not a stray bullet but a case of premeditated murder on the part of the killer police.
“We regret to note that while our 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 informing us 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 finding till date and now, arraignment without making public the full identity of the culprit as earlier demanded by our clients.
“Justice cannot only be done but justice must be seen to have been done. Our clients feel hard done by. They feel that the police have not dealt fairly with them on this matter. This approach by the police is tantamount to shaving one’s hair in his absence. It is totally unacceptable.
“On our part, we assure all concerned that no matter what happens, the gruesome and brutal murder of late Monsurat Ojuade can never be swept under the carpet. We must ensure that she and her family get the justice that they deserve and desire. Justice must be served and rightly so”, Mbaebie said.
Chronicle NG reported that the killer cop had been dismissed by the police after an orderly room trial.
Sergeant Phillips’ dismissal was announced in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu on Friday.
“The suspect will be charged to court today (Friday) for murder.”
“The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, had promised that the matter would be properly investigated and that justice would be served. This action is, therefore, done in fulfillment of that promise.
“The Commissioner of Police further sympathises with the bereaved family, and reiterates his earlier promise that justice would be done in this case,”Ajisebutu said.
