Family members of Ademola Akinloye, the murdered Ajiran prince, and rights activists have rejected calls to free a murder suspect in the trial over the deaths of two Ajiran residents in Lagos. They warned against any move to interfere with the judicial process.
This stance was shared during a press conference organized by the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights at the International Press Centre in Ogba, Lagos, on Monday.
Mrs Adeola Ogundimu-Akinloye, the younger sister of the late Ademola Akinloye, spoke on behalf of the family. She described her brother’s death as a painful loss that the family is still trying to cope with.
She said, “It was a very tragic and unexpected thing that happened to the family. We still can’t get over it, but we thank God. He was a peaceful and easygoing person who never had issues with anyone.”
Adeola stressed that the family is determined to seek justice despite what she called intimidation.
“We don’t want anything more than justice, and it must prevail. Whatever intimidation is on the ground, we believe that light will overcome darkness, and justice will prevail,” she added.
Alex Omotehinse, the President of CHSR, explained that the briefing aimed to tackle attempts to misrepresent the facts about the killings of Sherif Ishola Agborin in April 2023 and Prince Akinloye in August 2024.
He said the organization has been consistently fighting for justice for the victims and welcomed the arrest of the main suspect after a long search.
Omotehinse claimed that two suspects arrested earlier had made statements that implicated the main suspect, who was later declared wanted by the police. He was caught in the Republic of Benin and sent back to Nigeria.
He criticized groups advocating for the suspect’s release, saying civil society should promote accountability instead of protecting people accused of serious crimes.
“We are not objecting to advocacy, but the essence of civil society organizations is to check wrongdoing in society, not to be used as a shield for criminal elements,” he said.
He also accused some activists of trying to sway public opinion by portraying the suspect as a victim while the court case is ongoing.
Omotehinse reminded everyone that every accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty. He urged the public to let the legal process happen without interference.
“The genuine civil society organizations we represent are behind the police in this prosecution. We have laws in this country, and anyone who goes contrary to the law should face the consequences,” he said.
He raised concerns about what happened during a recent court session. He claimed family members of the victims could not enter the court while supporters of the suspect were allowed in.
Omotehinse urged the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to ensure that officers working on the case remain fair and focused on justice.
Activist Shina Oluremeko from the Campaign Against Impunity also spoke. He called on Nigerians to support the families of the deceased and to resist any efforts to derail the prosecution.
“You can’t commit murder in Lagos and expect people not to be interested. An injustice to one is an injustice to all,” he said.
He added that standing with the victims’ families is essential to ensure accountability and prevent similar incidents in the future.
The killings of Agboworin on April 18, 2023, and Prince Akinloye, son of the Ojomu of Ajiranland, Oba Akinloye, in August 2024, led to widespread protests and demands for justice. The Lagos State Police Command arrested the main suspect and an alleged accomplice earlier this year.
However, since the suspects' prosecution started last week, members of the victims' families have claimed that there are ongoing campaigns aimed at misrepresenting the facts about the killings and obstructing the trial of the main suspect.
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