A police sergeant, Lukmon Akanbi, has been dismissed from service and is to face murder charge for shooting one 39 years old Ramon Babatunde Adeniyi of Campus area of Lagos Island, Lagos State.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, ordered the arrest of the policeman who is attached to Victoria Island Police Station before he was prosecuted.
In a statement issued by the spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, DSP Bala Elkana, the incident happened on Friday at about 4.20 a.m. around Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The statement reads: “There was a fracas between the police officer who was on patrol at the area and the victim who was returning from an event.
“The police officer was said to have pulled the trigger of his pistol on the unarmed civilian, which fall short of professional standards on the use of firearms.
The victim was rushed to Naval Dockyard Hospital and was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.
“The Police Sergeant was arrested and detained at the Provost Department, Command Headquarters, Ikeja.
“He was subjected to internal disciplinary proceedings known as Orderly Room trials.
“He was arraigned before the Adjudicating Officer on three counts charge of Discreditable Conduct contrary to Paragraph E (3) First Schedule, Unlawful and Unnecessary Exercise of Authority contrary to Paragraph Q (2), and Damage to Articles contrary to Paragraph D (1), Police Act and Regulations, Cap 370 LFN 1990.
“The Sergeant was found guilty of all the charges and awarded punishment of dismissal from the Nigeria Police.
“He is handed over to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for prosecution in conventional court.
“The command condemned the unprofessional conduct of the dismissed Sergeant.
“The Commissioner of Police condoles with family and friends of the deceased person and assured them that justice will prevail.
“Supervisory officers of erring policemen will henceforth be held vicariously liable for the misconduct of their men.
“This is part of the measures put in place by the no-nonsense Commissioner of Police to curb incidents of professional misconduct and engendered accountability in the system.
“The CP vowed that no case of professional misconduct, human rights violations and abuse of powers by police officers will be tolerated.”
