Fish Out Officer Who Shot My Husband, Inspector’s Widow Begs Lagos Panel

A woman whose Police Inspector husband, Ayodeji Erinfolam, died
after being shot on the stomach on October 12 in the Surulere area
of Lagos during the #EndSARS protest, Friday narrated her pain at
the incident.

Mrs. Olamide Erinfolam told the Lagos State Judicial Panel of
Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and
other matters that she waited for her husband to call her once he
got to the office, as he promised, but he was killed before he
could do so.

She said she believed that her husband was shot by one of his
fellow policemen and pleaded with the tribunal to help avenge his
death.

Led in evidence by her lawyer, Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye, Olamide
said although the Lagos State Government gave the family N10m
compensation, “money cannot buy our joy.”

The widow stated that on the morning of October 12, her late
husband phoned her that he was going to work. She told him to call
her once he got to the office.

She, however, waited in vain for her husband’s phone call. Later
that day, someone called her from Maiduguri and asked her if she
had heard that her husband was shot during the protest.

The widow said she called each of her husband’s two phone lines
twice and the lines rang out.

“About 45 minutes later, I called again and a girl picked and
said my husband was shot. I asked her how, the lady said I should
be praying, I should call a pastor,” Olamide said.

She expressed disappointment that the police did not officially
call her to inform her about the incident.

The widow also noted that in the video footage of the incident
that she saw, none of her husband’s colleague was seen rallying
round to save his life after he was shot.

She said on getting to the mortuary where the remains of the
late Inspector was deposited, she could not look at his corpse.

When asked if the remains had been buried, the widow answered in
the negative.

Sobbing, she said: “They said they wanted to conduct an autopsy.
I have been to the mortuary to tell them to release the corpse for
burial because he has aged parents.”

At the instance of the petitioner’s counsel, the panel watched a
video clip of the scene where the deceased was shot.

The footage as well as two photographs of the deceased were
admitted as exhibits by the panel.

The petitioner’s counsel, Jonathan Ogunleye, prayed with the
panel to order the police to immediately conduct an autopsy and
release the remains of the deceased for burial so that the family
could get a closure.

Asked what she wanted the panel to do for her, the widow said,
“I need justice; I want justice to prevail. I want them to
investigate what killed my husband.”

Under cross-examination, counsel for the police, Cyril Ejiafor,
who said the late Inspector Erinfolami worked under him, challenged
the widow’s claim that the deceased’s killing was premeditated.

Ejiafor told the panel the police would call at least one
witness.

The panel adjourned further hearing till January 15, 2021.

A woman whose Police Inspector husband, Ayodeji Erinfolam, died
after being shot on the stomach on October 12 in the Surulere area
of Lagos during the #EndSARS protest, Friday narrated her pain at
the incident.

Mrs. Olamide Erinfolam told the Lagos State Judicial Panel of
Enquiry and Restitution for Victims of SARS related abuses and
other matters that she waited for her husband to call her once he
got to the office, as he promised, but he was killed before he
could do so.

She said she believed that her husband was shot by one of his
fellow policemen and pleaded with the tribunal to help avenge his
death.

Led in evidence by her lawyer, Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye, Olamide
said although the Lagos State Government gave the family N10m
compensation, “money cannot buy our joy.”

The widow stated that on the morning of October 12, her late
husband phoned her that he was going to work. She told him to call
her once he got to the office.

She, however, waited in vain for her husband’s phone call. Later
that day, someone called her from Maiduguri and asked her if she
had heard that her husband was shot during the protest.

The widow said she called each of her husband’s two phone lines
twice and the lines rang out.

“About 45 minutes later, I called again and a girl picked and
said my husband was shot. I asked her how, the lady said I should
be praying, I should call a pastor,” Olamide said.

She expressed disappointment that the police did not officially
call her to inform her about the incident.

The widow also noted that in the video footage of the incident
that she saw, none of her husband’s colleague was seen rallying
round to save his life after he was shot.

She said on getting to the mortuary where the remains of the
late Inspector was deposited, she could not look at his corpse.

When asked if the remains had been buried, the widow answered in
the negative.

Sobbing, she said: “They said they wanted to conduct an autopsy.
I have been to the mortuary to tell them to release the corpse for
burial because he has aged parents.”

At the instance of the petitioner’s counsel, the panel watched a
video clip of the scene where the deceased was shot.

The footage as well as two photographs of the deceased were
admitted as exhibits by the panel.

The petitioner’s counsel, Jonathan Ogunleye, prayed with the
panel to order the police to immediately conduct an autopsy and
release the remains of the deceased for burial so that the family
could get a closure.

Asked what she wanted the panel to do for her, the widow said,
“I need justice; I want justice to prevail. I want them to
investigate what killed my husband.”

Under cross-examination, counsel for the police, Cyril Ejiafor,
who said the late Inspector Erinfolami worked under him, challenged
the widow’s claim that the deceased’s killing was premeditated.

Ejiafor told the panel the police would call at least one
witness.

The panel adjourned further hearing till January 15, 2021.