The wife of the newspaper vendor killed by a security aide attached to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has opposed her husband’s family demand for N500m compensation.

Josephine Okereke on Thursday said she was not aware of the pre-litigation process.

Mrs. Okereke urged Gbajabiamila to ignore the family demand and fulfill his promises to her and two children.


The widow’s disapproval of the compensation comes days after the husband’s family demanded the sum in a letter written by their lawyer, Mike Ozekhome.

The husband’s family gave the speaker seven days to fulfil their demand or face legal action.

In the letter dated November 23, Ozekhome, said he has the mandate of the father of the deceased, Okorie Okereke, and his younger brother, Destiny Okereke, to make the demand.

“Our clients have instructed us to make from your good self, the following modest demands: That you use your good offices to ensure the immediate prosecution of your security aide (Abdullahi Hassan), who went on a frolic of his own, clearly acted outside the purview of his duty and responsibility by shooting to death an innocent, harmless and armless citizen,” the letter read.

“That you adequately compensate the Okereke family with a modest sum of N500m only.”

“This monetary demand can never adequately replace or take the place of their son, husband, brother, and breadwinner’s life.”

Their demand came a few days after Gbajabiamila visited the immediate family of the deceased and pledged to support his children’s education until they become adults.

The DSS last week said it has also arrested the operative, Abdullahi Hassan, who shot the late vendor.

The victim was rushed to the national hospital by his colleagues but was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

Gbajabiamila had in a statement vowed not to let the matter be swept under the carpet and promised to cater for the family of the deceased.

Source:
https://m.guardian.ng/National/Wife-of-newspaper-vendor-killed-by-Gbajabiamila’s-aide-disowns-husband-family’s-N500m-compensation

If the woman was not carried along in the litigation process, then she has done the right thing by speaking up.

Now, the ultimate loser will be Mike Ozekhome.

They don go one side talk to the lady.

The family don see way to cash out... anything na business wia Igbo man dey..

This is strictly a family issue please.

Arrrrrrrh

Am not perturbed at this kind of outcome. In Nigeria if you marry from a bad family if anything paraventure should happen to your husband, any monetary compensation goes to the family, I mean all.

I know of a family where the father dies and he was rich before his death but after his death his family took all his gratitude and left the woman in abject poverty.

So I personally think this the right step for her and her children cause if that money should enter such family hand, there's high possibility won't get anything at the end she will be left stranded .

May God exempt us from such cantankerous event like this .

We know how they treat their women, especially when the husband is no more

Millimann:
If the woman was not carried along in the litigation process, then she has done the right thing by speaking up.

Now, the ultimate loser will be Mike Ozekhome.

Even she was carried along, if the money is not shared equally she has actually done the right thing .

Mr Mike might end up destroying his reputation even further in a bid to destroy the image of an Apc lawmaker.

I knew the suit was quite unreasonable from the onset.

Are the in-laws helping her or doing their own bargain behind her back?Why didn't they take the deceased out of the street.I can't get married while hawking newspaper.It is demeaning.A newspaper is #50 profit when sold.

See why good people has refused to do good to the Nigerian poor. If the deceased father could afford Mike Ozekhome's I don't think his son would rather be a news paper vendor in far away Abuja for greener pastures.

On the other hand, Nigerian politicians can't be taken for their words though. If this action was made to legally commit Gbajabiamila, well I rather say it's a smart move as the widow may later be abandoned to her fate in future after initial gra gra.