WELA Demands Inquest Into Lady’s Death At Yoruba Nation Rally

Human rights organization, Women Empowerment and Legal Aid (WELA) has written to the Chief Coroner of the High Court of Lagos, demanding a probe into the death of a girl, Jumoke Oyeleke reportedly killed during the Yoruba Nation rally held on Saturday.

Jumoke was allegedly shot by the police during the rally, a claim the security agency has denied.

But in a letter dated July 5, 2021, and signed by Funmi Falana, the organization explained that the coroner’s probe will provide more insights into the conditions that led to Jumoke’s demise.

“In the light of the foregoing, we request you to use your good offices to cause a coroner’s inquest to be conducted into the tragic death of Jumoke Oyeleke and make appropriate recommendations pursuant to Section 15 of the Lagos State Coroner’s Law 2007 which provides that an ‘an inquest shall hold whenever a Coroner is informed that the death of a deceased person within his Coroner District as a result of death in a violent, unnatural or suspicious situation,’” the group said in the letter.

“It will be appreciated if the inquest is conducted without delay and the report made public to forestall such ugly occurrence.”

The human rights body claimed that Jumoke was killed by a stray bullet as security agencies shot into the crowd to disperse the protesters who converged at the Gani Fawehinmi Park, Ojota.

“A young trader, Jumoke Oyeleke, who was hit by stray bullet gave up the ghost,” WELA claimed.