Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
The Kwara State Police Command has dismissed a corporal, Mr. Daramola Tosin, from the Ekiti divisional police post from service for allegedly withdrawing N300,000 from bank account of an inspector, Mr. Lateef Shuaib, killing and burying him in a bush near Osi police station in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.
The command also arraigned the dismissed officer yesterday at a magistrate’s court in Ilorin.
According to the First Information Report, obtained in Ilorin yesterday, Shuaib’s sister, Mrs. Sherifat Hammed, reported on May 10, 2016 to the Osi Police Station that her brother had not been seen since May 6, 2016.
The FIR further said that Mrs. Hammed also reported that she suspected Tosin, adding that her elder brother had told her that when he gave Tosin his ATM card when he was sick, based on trust, for Tosin to be withdrawing money from his account at UBA on his behalf.
The FIR further quoted Mrs. Hammed as saying that Tosin dishonestly started transferring money from Shuaib’s account, bit-by-bit, without the now late inspector’s knowledge and consent and withdrew N300,000.
Part of the FIR said: “Investigation conducted at Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Ilorin revealed that on May 6 at about 10p.m, while Inspector Lateef Shuaib was defecating inside the bush, very close to the barrack at Osi Police Station, you Daramola Tosin, callously and viciously traced him into the bush and shot him with your AK47 rifle that led to his untimely death and you later buried him inside the bush at the back of Osi Barrack without the knowledge of anybody. You hereby committed the above offences”.
The FIR said the offences were culpable homicide, breach of trust and theft; contrary to Section 221, 312 and 289 of penal code law.
When the case was called, the police prosecutor, Mr. James Odaodu, told the magistrate court presided over by Mr. Nurudeen Adeyanju that the offence of the murder was capital in nature, adding that it was not bailable.
He pleaded with the court to remand the accused in prison custody.
Adeyanju, did not take any plea from the accused but said the magistrate court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter as it involved a murder charge, adding that it should be handled by the high court.
The magistrate, however, ordered that the dismissed officer should be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Mandalla in Ilorin and adjourned the case till June 21 for further mention.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Okaula, had earlier stated that when the matter was brought to his attention, he ensured thorough investigation into the matter.
He said the corporal later confessed to committing the crime and he subsequently dismissed him.
