The family of 24-year-old Saheed Shoboyejo, who was killed two months ago in the Osuke area of Ado Odo/Ota Local Government in Ogun State, has alleged that a retired Commissioner of Police and a local church are trying to obstruct the investigation into his murder.
At a press briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, the family expressed concerns over the handling of the case, claiming that the primary suspect in the killing has been boasting of his imminent release, despite substantial evidence linking him to the crime.
According to reports, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, had directed that the suspect be transferred to the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) in Abuja for further investigation. The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, had also assured the public that thorough investigations would be carried out. However, the family expressed frustration over the delay in bringing the suspect to court, urging the IGP to ensure that justice is not delayed.
Olusoji Jinadu, a family spokesperson, appealed to the IGP for intervention, stating, “We are asking for the IGP’s help because there is significant pressure on the SIU to release the suspect. Within just two weeks of taking over the investigation, the SIU had gathered sufficient evidence to bring the suspect to court and even informed us that he would be arraigned the following week while they continued to search for other members of his gang.”
Jinadu further revealed that a team of SIU detectives visited the crime scene in Lagos, where they discovered that a female police inspector, who is allegedly the suspect’s girlfriend, was involved in the case. She was subsequently called to Abuja for questioning.
Despite these developments, the family claims that the suspect has been reaching out to people, saying that all he needs is money to secure his release.
“The police at both the Sango Area Command and Zone 2 have enough evidence to proceed with the prosecution. We’re unclear why the SIU, which has completed its investigation, would need to start over,” said Jinadu.
The family has also claimed that the retired Commissioner of Police and the church where the suspect is reportedly affiliated have been exerting influence to ensure his release.
“We call on the IGP to take immediate action and ensure that the suspect is held accountable. Our demand is clear: the suspect must be brought before the court,” Jinadu concluded.
Leave a Reply