Pat Stevens/
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the arrest of four of his men who allegedly shot dead the daughter of former Minister of Finance, Senator Nenadi Usman, in Abuja on Saturday night.
Reports say 31-year-old Anita Akapson was shot dead at Katampe Extension area of Abuja.
Police authorities have also summoned the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area and the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the Force Headquarters over the incident.
The victim, a staff of the National Emergency Management Agency, just returned from abroad to settle in the country. She was reportedly arguing with the policemen near her home when she was gunned down in cold blood.
Anita’s mother, Senator Nenadi Usman, has been standing trial for alleged money laundering, and she has been listed among those affected by the new travel-ban order of the Federal Government.
She was Finance Minister under President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. She was later replaced during President Yar’Adua’s tenure by her husband, Dr Shamsudeen Usman, a former deputy governor at Central Bank of Nigeria.
Segun Awosanya, the convener of the EndSARS Campaign, told the story on his verified Twitter handle, @segalink, today.
Awosanya tweeted: “I’ve just had a dialogue with the authorities on Anita Akapson’s murder by a Policeman. The HQ in Abuja are on the matter and the Abuja Commissioner has been summoned to brief the leadership on the matter. The culprit will be brought to book & justice served.
“Just got informed that the IGP has directed the immediate detention of the policemen involved and an investigation has commenced. The AbujaCP, DPO and the family of the victim are currently at the mortuary and the @PoliceNG HQ Abuja is about making a press release this minute.
“In a few hours the Force PRO will release a statement on this and we will follow up with the family to ensure all that is needed to be done is done. Police should take responsibility and do needful.”
Reports say the policemen that shot the deceased claimed it was a case of “mistaken identity”.
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce commiserated with the victim’s family on his Twitter handle @benmurraybruce today.
He wrote: “My heartfelt condolences to the family of Senator Nenadi Usman over the murder of her 31-year-old daughter, Anita Akapson. Most disturbing is the reported shielding of the officer who carried out the dastardly act. I demand a full & public investigation by our security agencies.”
Anita’s killing came months after one Miss Linda Angela Igwetu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC who was shot dead by a police officer in July while on her way home with her friends in Abuja.
The late youth corps member was killed a day before her Passing Out Parade.
Meanwhile, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, has released a statement via the verified Twitter handle of the Nigeria Police, @PoliceNG, confirming the killing and the arrest of the policemen involved.
Below is a copy of a petition from Nenadi Usman’s Lawyer to the Police:
The Inspector-General of Police 14th October 2018
Nigeria Police Force
Police Headquarters
Louis Edet House
Abuja-FCT
Sir,
PETITION AGAINST THE GRUESOME MURDER OF MISS ANITA AKPASON BY A POLICE OFFICER AND A CALL FOR COMPREHENSIVE INVESTIGATION
We are solicitors to the Family of Senator Nenadi Usman (hereinafter refers to as “Our Clients”) on whose firm and unequivocal instruction we write you this letter.
Senator Nenadi Usman was a former Minister of Finance and Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Our Clients has availed us the circumstance of the gruesome murder of their daughter, Anita Akapson, (31 years old) who was gruesomely shot at close range by a trigger-happy police officer for reasons unknown to our client.
It is our brief that Our Clients received a distress call at about 11 pm on the 13th of October, 2018 by an anonymous caller who informed them that their daughter was in Gwarinpa District Hospital.
But, on the arrival of our Clients at the Hospital, Miss Anita had died from the gunshot injuries.
Several eyewitnesses (names withheld) detailed to our Clients how the deceased was trailed, targeted, intercepted, her vehicle brushed, blocked and shot at close range by a police officer while she was sitting in her vehicle (An Honda Accord Salon) at Katampe District, Abuja.
The circumstances of the trailing, tracking and gruesome murder of the deceased who had a strong affinity with Senator Nenadi Usman, a member of the leading opposition political party in Nigeria, and who is presently facing continuous prosecutions from the States, unleashed with inattentive executive sanctions, calls for a thorough and comprehensive investigation.
Our Clients have reasons to be apprehensive based on the circumstances as enumerated above particularly the shielding of the suspected officers, a (Superintendent of Police) involved in the matter.
Given the level of intimidation of opposition by the instrumentalities of the State, Our Clients are worried as to the intent or possible calculated assassination of the deceased to further cause pain and anguish on the family.
We, therefore, based on the foregoing, urge you to use your good offices to cause a comprehensive investigation of the killing and surrounding circumstances without further delay to unravel the intent and the culprits behind this mindless act.
Sir, you will agree with us that the right to life is Fundamental and non- negotiable. Nobody regardless of how highly placed should be allowed to take another person’s life and yet live freely in our society.
We are hopeful that this matter will not be ‘heartlessly’ swept underground in an attempt to protect the perpetrators, their sponsors and intent as we have experienced in the past inglorious days of this country.
TAKE NOTICE that we would be left with no other option than to use the instrumentality of the law to seek justice in the death of Miss Anita Akapson if investigations are not timeously and thoroughly conducted.
Please accept the assurances of warm professional regard.
Thank you.
Yours faithfully,
FOR: KAYODE AJULO & co