By Adesina Soyooye
These are difficult times for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The family of the Vendor, Ifeanyi Okereke, who was shot dead in Abuja, by a Security aide attached to him, are asking for the “paItry” sum of N500m from the Speaker to cushion the effect of the pain and trauma his sudden death has brought upon them.
Gbajabiamila had announced the death of the Vendor who, he said, was caused by a gunshot fired by a Security personnel attached to his convoy. He said he had stopped, as he had done on a number of times since he moved to Abuja, to exchange greetings with the newspaper Vendors who ply their trade just outside the National Assembly gate. Thereafter, he said, his convoy made to leave, but was blocked by some young men. That was when, according to him, the Security Officer fired shots to disperse them. Unfortunately, the bullets hit Mr Okereke. And killed him.
Gbajabiamila, in the statement he released, said he was distraught by Okereke’s manner of death. He took a number of actions.
He stood down the security officer from his convoy, and handed him over to the DSS for investigation. He held a meeting with Newspaper Distributors and Vendors Associations where he condoled with them. Both Associations had, the day after Okereke’s death, held a peaceful demonstration, asking for justice for their killed colleague. He also visited the family of the deceased, where he condoled with his wife, children and other family members.
He said he has taken over the welfare of the family Okereke left behind, and would be responsible for his children till they are 21years old. He also instructed his legal team to set up, immediately, a Trust Fund for the family’s welfare. And, of course, it is taken for granted that he would shoulder the burial expenses.
But his offers seem hardly enough for the family. Family members, led by his father, are not impressed. They want more. Which is why his father has retained the services of no less a Counsel than Dr. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to write. and ask from Speaker Gbajabiamila, the sum of N500m, and prosecution of the security Officer, identified as Abdullahi Hassan.
Among other demands, Ozekhome gave the Speaker a seven day ultimatum to meet the demands, or face legal actions. The letter to the Speaker reads in part:
“Our Clients have instructed us to make from your good self, the following modest demands: That you use your good offices to ensure the immediate prosecution of your security aide, (Abdullahi Hassan), who went on a frolic of his own, clearly acted outside the purview of his duty and responsibility by shooting to death an innocent, harmless and harmless citizen.
“That you adequately compensate the Okereke family with a modest sum of N500m, only. This monetary demand can never adequately replace, or take the place of their son, husband, father, brother and breadwinner’s life. But it will, at least, mitigate the obvious trauma and hardship the premature demise of their irreplaceable breadwinner has placed on them.”
The family also asked the Speaker to ensure the safety of Newspaper Vendors in Abuja, as the manner of Okereke’s death, now, scares them from the streets of the FCT.
Gbajabiamila was given a seven-day ultimatum to fulfil the demands, or face legal action.
“Take note, therefore, that it is our clients’ firm instructions that in the event that you fail, refuse, and/or neglect to accede to, or proffer reasonable compensatory terms to our above modest demands within seven days from the date of this letter, we shall, without any further correspondence from us, take appropriate legal steps to enforce our clients’ constitutional right.”
But newspaper Distributors and Vendors who spoke to this magazine expressed shock at the family’s action.
They say Gbajabiamila has done enough for the family.
One of the Vendor’s told The Source: “They want to make money from their son’s tragic death. The man has taken over their welfare, taken over everything about his children till they get to the age of 21 years. He is also setting-up a Trust Fund. What else do they want. This is greediness.”
The Vendor was to start work at the Ministry of Labour and Productivity before his death. His last child was aged nine days, only, at the time of his death.
It is not known if the Vendor’s widow is aware of the new development.
