Okoli Ahize Chizoputam, a final-year student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-ife, Osun State, was brutally murdered, and the law office of human rights attorney Femi Falana, SAN, has written to Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, asking for answers.
On April 21, 2023, on campus, some students brutally murdered Chizoputam, a 500-Level engineering student, for allegedly stealing a phone.
In a statement released soon after the event, Ms. Yemisi Opalola, the public relations officer for the Osun State Police, described how the final-year student was slain.
Nonetheless, she had mentioned that a covert investigation was underway and that two people had been detained in connection with the case.
However, in a letter to the Nigerian police chief titled “Request for information on the alleged killing of Okoli Ahize Chizoputam, a final-year student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun state on April 21 2023,” signed by the principal legal officer in his office, Taiwo E. Olawanle, Falana denounced the student’s death on the campus of the university.
He lamented that the putative thieves, who said it was inappropriate, had used jungle justice in a university community rather than reporting the incident to the police.
We are a company of legal professionals dedicated to the defence of human rights, the rule of law, and public accountability in Nigeria, the letter stated in part.
“One Okoli Ahize Chizoputam, a final-year student at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, was brutally murdered at around 3:30 pm on April 21, 2023. Thereafter, several worried students from the institution transported his body to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife.
“The deceased was accused of stealing a phone. Nevertheless, the assailants turned to jungle justice in a university neighbourhood rather than reporting the alleged theft to the police. We can confirm that a few people were taken into custody in relation to the cold-blooded killing of Okoli Ahize Chizoputam.
“Given the preceding, we feel forced to ask that you give us information regarding the suspects’ inquiry.
The information would allow us to exert pressure on the appropriate Osun State authorities to charge the individuals who committed the heinous atrocity to discourage future jungle justice practitioners.
Please accept our principal, Mr. Femi Falana SAN, greatest regards as we wait for your prompt answer to our plea.
