The family of Damilare Adesubokan, the 29-year-old man killed in January while officials of the Lagos Task Force were chasing a traffic offender, have decried the denial of access to CSP Shola Jejeloye, the chairman of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (also known as Task Force) to return the bribe offered them for demanding justice over their son’s death.

Damilare’s death stirred controversy as a mammoth crowd comprising family members and union members protested to the office of the Lagos Task Force at Bolade, Oshodi on that day, accusing the task force officials of killing the young man.

FIJ’s investigation established the culpability of the Task Force in the accident after gathering multiple evidence and eyewitnesses’ accounts.

While the investigation was still ongoing, this reporter received information on how CSP Jejeloye attempted to bribe the deceased’s family with N250,000. 

READ ALSO: “CHASED TO DEATH: How Lagos Task Force Officials Killed an Aged Widow’s Son — Then Tried to Bribe the Family”

Although Tunde Adesubokan, the deceased’s first brother and Saheed Adewale, one of the lead protesters, had initially collected the ‘cash gift’ from the task force chairman on Sunday, January 31, they eventually made efforts to return it upon protestations by other members of the family.

“The people who witnessed the killing of the boy knew what they saw,” said Mary, the wife of Tunde Adesubokan.

“If they are still denying the offence and are now trying to silence us with money, only God knows what is hidden to man. Their money is still at home here stashed.”

Tunde told FIJ that they were not allowed to see the chairman on each of the two occasions they visited in an attempt to return the N250,000 bribe.

Meanwhile, Adebayo Taofeek, the Public Relations Officer of the Task Force, told FIJ he was not aware of any exchange of money over the case.

“Although I am very aware of the death case, I am not aware the chairman gave the family at any point,” he said. 

He added that the case had been transferred to the Lagos State Police Command.

In reaction to the death in January, CP Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, had ordered the DPO of Akinpelu Division to work with independent observers and eyewitnesses in the area to trace and bring the culprit to book.

Nothing has been heard of the investigation ever since.