Josephine Okereke wife of the newspaper vendor Ifeanyichukwu Okereke, who died from a gunshot fired by an aide of to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, has disowned her husband’s family over their demand for N500million compensation.
At a press conference on Thursday, the widow said she was not aware of the pre-litigation process, urging Mr Gbajabiamila to ignore the family and fulfil his promises to her and her two children.
“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.”
Mr Okereke’s family had written to Gbajabiamila in a letter dated November 23, demanding N500million as compensation or they would press charges in seven days.
The letter to the speaker was signed by lawyer Mike Ozekhome and authorised by the father of the deceased Okorie Okereke and the younger brother Destiny Okereke.
Abdullahi Hassan an operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) who fired the fatal shot has been arrested.
Gbajabiamila had visited the family of the deceased and promised to ensure that they do not suffer.
