Wife of newspaper vendor killed by Gbajabiamila’s convoy rejects husband’s family over demand for N500m compensation

Josephine Okereke, the wife of the newspaper vendor shot and killed by a State Security Services operative attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has disowned her husband’s family over their demand for N500m compensation.

Mrs Okereke spoke at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

The family of Ifeanyichukwu Okereke had written to Mr Gbajabiamila, demanding N500m, Punch reported.

Lawyer to the family, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, in a letter dated November 23, said he was given the mandate to write the letter by the father of the deceased, Okorie Okereke; and the younger brother to the deceased, Destiny Okereke.

The SSS had last week arrested the operative, Abdullahi Hassan, who shot Mr Okereke while Mr Gbajabiamila had also visited the family of the deceased and promised to ensure that they do not suffer.

However, the family demanded more, adding that nothing could bring the dead vendor back to life.

The widow, however, said she was not aware of the pre-litigation process, urging the Speaker to ignore the family fulfil his promises to her and her two children.

Mrs Okereke said: “I was in my house when within 10 minutes my father-in-law came from Abia, he went out along with his other son and the next day I heard that my husband’s people are demanding N500 million as compensation,” she said.

“I was shocked and asked how will they be doing that and how will the speaker help the children again with such demand. All I want now is that the person that killed my husband to face justice.”

She added that the man had secured a job with the federal ministry of labour and employment some months ago but was unable to start because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“COVID-19 prevented him from resuming, it was the minister, Dr Chris Ngige, that helped him secured the job, but since COVID-19 prevented him from resuming he went back to the vendor so as to make a living,” she said.