CDHR and Family's Quest for Justice: Remembering Bamise, Mohbad, and the #EndSARS Victims
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), a human rights organization, is fervently calling for justice in the cases of late Oluwabamise Ayanwola, who tragically lost her life in an incident involving a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, and the late musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, widely known as Mohbad. The CDHR, in conjunction with the Movement for Justice, is also championing the cause of justice for the victims of the 2020 #EndSARS protests.
To provide some context, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, aged 22, went missing on February 26, 2022, after she boarded a BRT bus from the Ajah area of Lagos to Oshodi. Tragically, her lifeless body was discovered nine days later by the police. An autopsy report suggests that she was sexually assaulted and murdered inside a BRT bus on the evening of February 26, 2022, between Chevron bus stop, Ajah, and Lagos Island, while onboard BRT No. 240257.
Kehinde Adeoye, the Chairman of CDHR in Lagos State, has expressed concern regarding the protracted legal proceedings in Ayanwola's case. He acknowledges that her case has been in court since March 2022 but has faced numerous unnecessary adjournments. However, he applauds the Lagos State House of Assembly for taking notice of the public outcry and addressing the matter on Tuesday, July 11.
The CDHR and its partners are resolutely demanding justice for Ayanwola and insist that the perpetrator responsible for her death, along with the others involved in the incident, are identified and brought to justice. They are also calling for the recovery of Ayanwola's phone, which is believed to hold crucial evidence related to her untimely demise.
Furthermore, the CDHR is actively seeking justice in the case of Mohbad's tragic death. Ayo Ademiluyi, the legal consultant for Ayanwola's family, expresses concerns about potential connections between Mohbad's assailants and influential figures in Nigeria. He points to videos and images on social media that appear to show Sam Larry and Naira Marley in the company of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Ademiluyi also questions the integrity of the Nigeria Police in investigating Mohbad's death and condemns their actions during the dispersal of mourners at the Lekki Toll Gate during the #JusticeforMohbad protests.
Ademiluyi is urging the coroner panel assigned to investigate the matter to allow independent experts to conduct a separate autopsy, as the one performed by the police lacks trustworthiness. He is also advocating for the arrest and prosecution of military officers involved in the #EndSARS Lekki Toll Gate tragedy. Furthermore, he calls for the examination of the deceased bodies of the #EndSARS victims by pathologists to facilitate proper identification and a dignified burial.
Oluwabamise Ayanwola's elder sister, Ayanwola Oluwadamilola, passionately appeals to the Lagos State government not to forsake Mohbad's case as it seems to have done with her sister's. She highlights that her sister's case has been ongoing for almost two years, and although it is in court, the Lagos State government appears to have abandoned it. She laments the lack of progress in the case, emphasizing that justice must be served and that the authorities need to be held accountable for their failure to bring those responsible for her sister's death to justice.
The CDHR and their partners are unyielding in their pursuit of justice for these individuals, and they continue to push for transparency, accountability, and fair treatment in these cases