CRIME Policeman dismissed, remanded over murder

An Ado-Ekiti chief magistrates’ court yesterday remanded in prison a 30-year-old police officer over alleged murder.

The prosecutor, Insp Johnson Okunade, told the court that the accused, Famodimu Ayo, committed the offences on Tuesday in Oye-Ekiti while on patrol duty.

Okunade said the gun of the accused had fallen down, with a bullet hitting and killing the driver of a car he had stopped.

He further told the court that the bullet also hit a second victim in the car, Azeez Isaac, who sustained injuries.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 319 and 324 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

The plea of the accused was not taken.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the accused in prison pending receipt of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

The defence counsel, Mr Sunday Ochai, on his part pleaded with the court to grant his client bail.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Adesoji Adegboye, however, remanded the accused in prison and adjourned the case till Dec. 28 for mention.

Daily Trust gathered that Famodimu, who was dismissed after undergoing an orderly room trial, shot dead the commercial driver,

identified as Olabode Ojo for allegedly refusing him gratification of N50 at a checkpoint.

Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Alberto Adeyemi, who confirmed Famodimu’s dismissal, said policemen were not trained to

kill civilians but to defend lives and property.

Adeyemi said, “He (Famodimu) has already been dismissed. and as I am talking to you now, he is an ex-policeman.”