Joy Anyim
The police have dismissed Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan, the officer who pulled the trigger that killed 36-year-old Kolade Johnson.
Lagos State Public Relations Officer, DSP Elkana Bala disclosed this in a press statement on Thursday.
According to Bala, the dismissal of Olalekan followed an orderly room trial where the Inspector was found guilty of misconduct.
While the command had arrested two officers of the Anti-Cultism Unit for the shooting, Bala said the second officer, Sergeant Godwin Orji was not found guilty, hence, he was discharged and acquitted.
He further stated that the suspect had been handed over to the State Criminal Investigations Department, Panti, Yaba to be prosecuted for murder.
The statement reads: “The Orderly Room trial commenced on Monday and ended on Thursday. The two officer arrested were tried on three-count charge of discreditable conduct, unlawful and unnecessary exercise of authority and damage to clothing or other articles contrary to paragraph E (iii), Q (ii) and D (i) first schedule, Police Act and Regulations, Cap 370 LFN 1990.
“Five witnesses testified. At the conclusion of the trial, the first defaulter, Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan was found guilty of discreditable conduct by acting in a manner prejudicial to discipline and unbecoming of members of the Force by shooting and killing Kolade Johnson; unlawful and unnecessary exercise of authority by using unnecessary violence, by using AK 47 rifle on the deceased in total neglect to the provisions of Force Order 237 on the use of Firearms.
“The Adjudicating Officer, CSP Indyar Apev awarded the punishment of dismissal from service and prosecution to the first defaulter. There was no evidence linking the second defaulter, Sergeant Godwin Orji to the shooting. He was therefore found not guilty and discharged and acquitted.
“The first defaulter, Inspector Ogunyemi Olalekan is handed over to Criminal Investigation Department, Panti for prosecution in conventional Court.”