Senate orders police to expose killers of OAU lecturer

• Confirms Nami, 13 others as FIRS board members
The Senate yesterday mandated the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to immediately trail and arrest the killers of a lecturer with the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Jerome Elutayo Elusiyan with a view to prosecuting them.

It also asked the Federal Government to place priority on the lives of Nigerians during the Christmas and New Year season and beyond.

The directive followed the adoption of a motion on the issue moved by representative of Osun East Senatorial district, Ayo Francis Fadahunsi.

Coming under order 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Rules, Sponsor of the motion to that effect, Fadahunsi, said Elusiyan, a professor of Pediatrics and Child Health and and Chairman, Medical Advisory Council of OAU Teaching Hospital, was attacked and killed on December 13, 2019 on his way to Benin at Iruekpen, Esan West Council Area of Edo State.

Fadahunsi explained that Elusiyan, an indigene of Oke-Igbo in Ondo State, was Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Ile-Ife.

He said armed robbers shot the lecturer last Saturday along the Benin/Ekpoma road in Edo State, adding that gunmen, who were operating on the road, attacked the deceased varsity teacher.

The Senate, which observed a minute’s silence in honour of the deceased mandated the police authorities to expose the killers and bring them to justice.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Mathew Urhoghide, lamented the killing of the lecturer, saying Elusiyan was returning to Benin from the Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma where he had gone to conduct an examination.

He noted with concern that four days after the incident, the police had yet to apprehend the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

Besides, the Senate yesterday confirmed the nomination of Muhammad Nami as Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) and 13 others as board members.

The confirmation followed a report of the Committee on Finance and its consideration at the Senate Committee of the Whole.

President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter to the Senate, forwarded the list of the persons for appointment as Chairman and board members of the service.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan had announced the list of the nominees at plenary on December 9, 2019 following which, the list was referred to its Finance Committee.

Those confirmed are, James Yakwen Ayuba (North Central), Ado Danjuma (North West), Adam Mohammed (North East), Ikeme Osakwe (South East), Adewale Ogunyomade (South West) and Ehile Adetola Aibangbee (South-South), among others.