Josephine Okereke, the wife of the newspaper vendor shot and killed by a Department of State Services operative attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has disowned her husband’s family over their demand for N500m compensation.
Josephine spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.
The family of Ifeanyichukwu Okereke had written to Gbajabiamila, demanding N500m.
Lawyer to the family, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), in a letter dated November 23, 2020, said he was given the mandate to write the letter by the father of the deceased, Okorie Okereke; and the younger brother to the deceased, Destiny Okereke.
The DSS had last week arrested the operative, Abdullahi Hassan, who shot Okereke while Gbajabiamila had also visited the family of the deceased and promised to ensure that they do not suffer.
However, the family demanded more, adding that nothing could bring the dead vendor back to life.
The widow, however, said she was not aware of the pre-litigation process, urging the Speaker to ignore the family and instead fulfil his promises to her and her two children.
My condolences to the widow and children of the slain newspaper vendor. I am disheartened to lean that the family are demanding compensation without the active participation of the victims widow. This is not good.
The widow is good to point out that the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives should quickly deliver on his promise to support her children’s education. This is an urgent, pressing and relevant request. Her husband is no longer around to provide their daily bread.
The criminal prosecution of the Police man is the prerogative of the State.
Greedy family. Instead of pushing for the perpetrator to be brought to book. They should allow them help her and those innocent kids. If that 500 million even comes they won’t give her a dime am sure..