Josephine, wife of late Ifeanyi Okereke, the ill-fated Abuja Vendor, shot dead on Thursday, last week by a Security aide attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, is ready for a battle with her late husband’s family over what many people describe as the family’s greediness and outrageous demand of the Speaker.
Abdullahi Hassan, the Security officer had, inexplicably, fired shots in the air to disperse a group of young men, allegedly, blocking the Speaker’s convoy, after the Speaker had stopped to exchange banters with the Vendors at the gate of the National Assembly.
The bullets hit one of the Vendors, Mr Okereke, and killed him.
A clearly distraught Speaker, stood Hassan down from his convoy, handed him over to the DSS for investigation, paid a condolence visit to the family, said he would take over the welfare of the family, be responsible for everything about the children he left behind until they turn 21 years, (the last was nine days old when his father was killed), and set-up a Trust Fund for his children.
Gbajabiamila also met with the FCT Associations of Newspapers Distributors and Vendors and condoled with them on the tragic death of their colleague.
Many people were impressed, and applauded.
But not his family, as represented by his father, Okorie Okereke, and younger brother, Destiny Okereke.
In what seems like an opportunity to make money, blood money, the duo instructed Mike Ozhekome, SAN, to demand from the Speaker, a “modest N500m”, to cushion the “trauma and pain of the sudden death of their bread winner.” They gave the Speaker a seven-day ultimatum, or they would proceed to Court, without any other reference to him. They, also, made other demands from the Speaker. To see to the prosecution of the Security officer, and the safety of FCT Vendors.
Great expectations. But there is a snag.
Father and son neither consulted the Widow, Josephine, nor told her what they were upto. She read it in the newspapers. And hit the roof.
On Thursday, she addressed a Press Conference, and dissociated herself from the greedy meal. She told the Speaker she had no inkling of what her in-laws were demanding for. And asked Gbajabiamila to continue with the promises he made to the family – including taking care of their welfare, and being responsible for them until they are 21.
Many have applauded the Widow’s action, and asked the Speaker to protect her and her children from her father-in-law and brother-in-law.
