Police Say No Compromise In Alleged Death Of Joy

The Nigeria Police Force on Thursday assured that it had not compromised in the investigation into the alleged death of late Joy Odama, 21.

Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris

Odama, a 200 Level Mass Communication undergraduate of the Cross River University, from Yala Local Government Area of the state, allegedly died in the house of one Alhaji Usman Adamu on Dec. 21, 2016, in Karmo, Abuja.

The mother of the deceased, Mrs Philomena Odama, alleged that the DPO in charge of Karmo Division, CSP Nkem Raphael, had compromised in the investigation of the case.

She also alleged that the DPO told them not to pursue the case further and advised them to dialogue with Adamu for their daughter’s burial.

However, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, told newsmen in Abuja that the DPO (Raphael) had been queried and removed from office.

“The Force will not allow any compromise that can pervert the end of justice in the whole process.

“The DPO has been queried and removed from his position to allow for thorough investigation.

“Investigation into the matter has been concluded and there is no compromise in the matter,’’ he said.

“To ascertain the actual cause of the death of Odama, two autopsy examinations were carried out.

“The first autopsy examination conducted by a Pathologist, Dr Jibrin Paul with National Hospital, Abuja, was released to the Police on the 10th May, 2017, though not conclusive,’’ Moshood said.

He said that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has directed that another autopsy be conducted on the deceased to ascertain the cause of her death.

“The police has received the second autopsy report on the case and it will be used to prosecute the case,’’ he said.

“The first and the second autopsy reports were accepted as evidence and will be tendered in court along with the case file in the prosecution of the principal suspect, Adamu,” he assured.

He said that the suspect was currently in police custody for alleged culpable homicide.

He said exhibits recovered by the police were taken over by the I-G Monitoring Unit for further investigation into the matter after a thorough search of Adamu’s residence.

The spokesman said all evidence gotten from the investigation would be preserved for the prosecution of the case.

Moshood urged the aggrieved family of the deceased to be calm for justice to prevail.