Resolving That Edo Murder

Last week, at the meeting of the National Council of States, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole engaged the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke in a hot exchange of words over unresolved issues in the gruesome murder of the Private Secretary to Oshiomhole, Mr Olaitun Oyerinde.

Embarrassing as it is to the nation, this, happening at a meeting of Nigeria’s highest advisory body comprising the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President, Namadi Sambo, Senate President, David Mark, Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, 36 State governors and former Presidents and Heads of State should not only embarrass Nigeria’s top policy makers but underscores the need to end the era of sweeping high profile killings under the carpet.

The burning issue between the Edo State Governor and Adoke which almost brought the hallowed gathering of the nation’s top leaders into chaos, was the manner the Federal Government through the police has handled the investigation into the murder of Mr Oyerinde.

Making public the issue in contention, Edo State Governor expressed disappointment that the Attorney –General had failed to take necessary steps to refer back to the Edo State Attorney-General the result of the investigation on the murder which he believed was wrongfully referred to the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (AIG) instead of the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

While The Tide commends the sustained demand for justice on the Oyerinde’s murder by Governor Oshiomhole, we think that reducing it to an ordinary public quarrel is not the way to go. We expect a more articulate and meaningful interface between the agencies of government involved in the prosecution of this matter to resolve it once and for all.

The Tide endorses the  unrelenting efforts made by Governor Oshiomhole to unearth the killers of his aide, including when he had to address the police high command on a national television programme, but wonders how all still appears to amount to nothing. Oshiomhole’s allegations are so compelling that the police, at least should have done something.

We should at this point of our nation’s democracy come to terms with the fact that nobody has a right under our constitution to take the life of another, except if it has been confirmed by a court of competent jurisdiction. It therefore behoves  the police high command and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to handle any matter particularly those involving the taking of life with the utmost urgency and responsibility it deserves.

We condemn outrightly, the seeming persistence of a situation where less attention is paid to very serious crimes involving human lives in this country. If the Nigerian Police is not worried that people like late Bola Ige, Marshall Harry, A. K. Dikibo, among others could be murdered in cold blood and no one is charged, the rest of Nigerians cannot accept it. Life is sacred and should be treated as such.

We expect the police and every other agency of government responsible for unearthing and bringing to justice perpetrators of such heinous  crimes, particularly in the recent case of Oyerinde, to handle such national assignment speedily, the same manner  killers of security personnel are hounded and tracked down.

The Tide is not interested in the distractions in this matter. If the police has discovered any deficiency in the handling of the matter, urgent steps should be taken immediately to address the anomaly and every loophole blocked to ensure proper prosecution.

We think that the process of bringing criminals to justice in Nigeria has not changed and the Oyerinde’s case should not be allowed to further dent the image of the police, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the security record of Nigeria. The Inspector-General of Police and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice must acquit themselves on this matter now.

Failure to urgently unearth and publicly prosecute the perpetrator or perpetrators of such “high profile killing involving the Private Secretary of the Governor of a state will without doubt undermine efforts being put in place by the Federal Government to re-enforce the sanctity of  human lives and property of citizens.