The Civil Society for Human Rights (CHSR) has raised alarm over the alleged disregard of a court order in the case involving the killings of Mr. Sheriff Ishola Salami and Prince Kazeem Ademola Akinloye in Ajiran, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The organisation also demanded the immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of Alhaji Ahmed Tajudeen, whom it described as the prime suspect in the killings.
Speaking at a press conference, the President of CHSR, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, said the organisation was addressing the media on behalf of the families of the deceased and residents of Ajiran, who, according to him, remain traumatised by the killings.
Salami was reportedly ambushed and killed in Moba, Eti-Osa, on April 18, 2023, while Akinloye was allegedly assassinated along Chevron Road on August 26, 2024.
Omotehinse alleged that investigations by the police uncovered a pattern of coordinated violence and that suspects arrested in connection with the killings allegedly made confessional statements implicating Tajudeen as the principal sponsor and orchestrator of the attacks.
According to him, Tajudeen subsequently fled Nigeria but was later apprehended and extradited to the country following international collaboration involving INTERPOL.
The CHSR president said the arrest had initially renewed the hope of the victims’ families that justice would be served, but expressed concern over developments following a court order reportedly directing that the suspect be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
He alleged that the order was not complied with, claiming that correctional authorities declined to take custody of the suspect on the grounds of ill health.
Omotehinse further alleged that no medical documentation confirming the suspect’s health condition had been certified by the court and that no formal application had been made for a variation of the remand order.
He consequently demanded that the Inspector-General of Police investigate the circumstances surrounding the case, including the alleged leakage of sensitive police documents and the activities of officers involved in the investigation.
The organisation also called for a review of the role of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, and the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the case, as well as clarification on the status of the original case file.
The CHSR further called on the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service to publicly disclose the whereabouts and custodial status of Tajudeen and explain why the alleged remand order was not complied with.
The organisation also expressed concern over what it described as alleged interference by serving and retired senior police officers and influential individuals seeking to shield the prime suspect.
It accused unnamed bloggers of promoting narratives that allegedly portray the suspects as victims and undermine the police investigation, while stressing that the allegations should be subjected to proper investigation.
“Where is Alhaji Ahmed Tajudeen?” Omotehinse asked, demanding to know who was holding him, under what authority, and in whose interest.
The organisation warned that failure to enforce court orders, coupled with the alleged disappearance of a suspect within the justice system, could undermine public confidence in the rule of law.
CHSR’s demands include the immediate disclosure of Tajudeen’s whereabouts, full compliance with the reported remand order, an independent investigation into the alleged violation of the court order, sanctions against any officials found culpable, an investigation into the alleged leakage of police documents and protection for the families of the deceased.
“The credibility of our justice system is no longer being debated; rather, it is being tested in real time,” Omotehinse said.
He added that CHSR would continue to pursue the matter through lawful means, including advocacy, institutional engagement and civic action.
“Justice must not only be done; it must be seen to be done without fear, favour or compromise,” he said.
