Witnesses tell court how dismissed DPO shot fuel subsidy protesters

Two witnesses on Tuesday told an Ikeja High Court in Lagos State how a police officer, Segun Fabunmi, allegedly shot at some persons during the protest over the removal of fuel subsidy in January 2012.
The witnesses, Messrs Adekunle Alabi and Alimi Abubakar, made the allegation while testifying at the trial of Fabunmi, a former DPO of Pen Cinema Police Station, Agege, Lagos.
Fabunmi, who was dismissed from the police after the incidence, is being prosecuted for allegedly shooting Adedamola Daramola to death during the protest on January 9, 2012.
He was also accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Abubakar and two other protesters, Egbujor Samuel and Chibuzo Udo, by separately shooting at them with his gun.
Fabunmi had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted a N250 million bail by Justice Olabisi Akinlade.
The witnesses, who were led in evidence by Olabisi Ogungbesan, Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, identified Fabunmi as the officer who shot at the protesters.
Abubakar told the court that he and some other persons, including the deceased Daramola, had gathered at Yaya Abatan Junction, Agege, to read newspapers.
He said a police team, led by the accused, arrived at about 8am and one of the officers started shooting in the air and towards the ground to scare them.
He said: “The accused snatched the gun from him and started shooting at us as we were standing at the junction.
“I can’t tell how many times he fired, but I was hit by a bullet on my leg.
“Daramola was standing by my side and the bullet also injured him, he ran towards Abeokuta Street, while I ran into a nearby mosque,”
The witness said he saw Fabunmi chasing some people, including the deceased, towards Abeokuta Street, from where he was hiding inside the mosque.
He, however, said he did not see Fabunmi shooting at Daramola because he was in hiding.
Abubakar said he was rushed by some boys, alongside the badly injured Daramola, to the Ifako General Hospital, after the police had left.
The witness said Daramola later died as a result of the gun wounds, while he was referred to another hospital for treatment.
Testifying, Alabi, a resident of Yaya Abatan area, said he saw Fabunmi as he snatched the gun from another policeman and shot straight at the protesters.
He said the deceased, who was a tailor, was among the boys that were injured after the alleged shooting spree.
He said: “I saw everything from my house where I was hiding.
“After the police left, I came out and I saw a bullet, which I gave to the Baale (head) of the community.
“Some policemen later came and took my statement and asked me to come and give evidence in court.”
The matter was adjourned to October 25 for continuation of trial.