The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, has set up a fresh panel to investigate recent high-profile murders in the country, in compliance with a recent directive by President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua.
The team, which is headed by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Mr. Kieran Dudari, is to investigate the murder of the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige; erstwhile Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Chief Funso Williams; former Deputy National Chairman (South), All Nigeria Peoples Party, Marshal Harry; frontline politicians such as Alhaja Suliat Adedeji, Dr. Ayo Daramola, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Layi Balogun and others.
Alarmed by the public outcry over the mystery surrounding the high profile assassination, Yar�Adua, in a letter to the IG, ordered him to open fresh probe into the killings, with the aim of apprehending the killers. According to a top police boss, �The IG, after receiving the directive, convened a Police Management Meeting where the contents of the President�s letter were discussed. It was at the meeting that the idea of setting up a fresh team to look into the cases was decided. That was why the Dudari team was set up.�
The team was mandated to take a fresh look at the case files of the murders and recommend fresh clues that could help police to get to the root of the killings. But when contacted, Okiro neither confirmed nor denied the report, volunteering only that he was determined to get to the root of the killings.
Okiro said on Wednesday, �When I was appointed the IGP, I did say that I would revisit those cases. I am still standing on that promise. The cases of Ige and others are not closed. This I can authoritatively tell you. I must tell you that even after the culprits have been arrested and even jailed or fined, such crimes can still be revisited.
�So, we are still seeking fresh information on the matter. If you see anyone who has new clues, he should feel free to contact the police, and we will treat such information with the usual secrecy.�
Dec222007