Silifat Adeyemo, widow of Rotimi Adeyemo, an officer of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority allegedly killed by the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, on Saturday pleaded for scholarship for her children.
Silifat made the request to the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for Restitution for Victims of SARS Related Abuses and Other Matters.
The late grade level eight officer was allegedly shot and killed on November 28, 2018, at his duty post at the Iyana-Ipaja Roundabout, Lagos, by Olukunle Olonode, a SARS officer, who is now deceased.
Silifat, who was in tears, was led in evidence by M.M. Sanni.
She said that since the demise of Rotimi, she had been catering for their three children – a son aged eight and three-year-old female twins.
“I want the panel to help me financially because it has not been easy for me.
“I do not have any amount of money in mind but the future of my children is important to me – how they will live a comfortable life.
“I want them to get scholarship, good education up to university level.
“He was the breadwinner of the family, and left behind aged parents,” she said.
Silifat said that an autopsy conducted on Rotimi’s body confirmed that he died from a gunshot injury.
She told the panel that her husband was buried on December 14, 2018.
“His family and LASTMA staff members contributed money for his funeral; the boss of SARS, CSP Gana, came to pay the family a condolence visit.
“I never met the person who fired the shot, he was not taken to court. My husband was very popular and hardworking.
“When the shooting happened, hoodlums gathered to beat Olonode and the police at Mosalashi Police Station came to rescue him.
“After the incident, we were not compensated by the police,” she said.
During cross-examination by Joseph Eboseremem, counsel for the police, she said she was not aware that Olonode had died.
