The family of Ifeanyi Okereke, the newspaper vendor who died after being shot by an operative of Department of Security Service (DSS) in the convoy of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has demanded N500 million in compensation for the loss of their loved one.

In a letter addressed to Gbajabiamila by their lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, the family gave the speaker seven days to meet their demand or face legal action.

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

Read Also: SPEAKER GBAJABIAMILA CONFIRMS DEATH OF VENDOR SHOT BY HIS SECURITY AIDE IN ABUJA, SUSPENDS OFFICER

The demand is coming a few days after the speaker visited the family to pay his respects. He also pledged to support his children’s education until they become adults.

He announced that he had asked his lawyers to “immediately set up a trust fund” for the children of Ifeanyi Okereke, that will support them until they reach adulthood.

“Those children have now become my children. I have made commitments to the family to train them until they become adults," Gbajabiamila said.

Read Also: NEWSPAPER VENDORS IN ABUJA SET TO PROTEST OVER KILLING OF MEMBER BY GBAJABIAMILA’S SECURITY AIDE

Eons Intelligence had reported how a DSS operative attached to the speaker shot Ifeanyi Okereke, a newspaper vendor in the FCT. 

The incident was said to have occurred at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, around 3 pm on Thursday, November 19.

The victim died shortly after he was rushed to the National Hospital by his brother and some police officers.

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.

The speaker also identified the indicted officer as Abdullahi Hassan from the Department of State Services, DSS.

Despite the commitment made by the speaker to the family, Mr Ozekhome said if the demand of N500m amongst others was not met, he would institute legal action against the speaker.

Read Also: DSS DETAINS SECURITY AIDE OF SPEAKER GBAJABIAMILA FOR KILLING VENDOR IN ABUJA

"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.

“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.

“But it will at least mitigate the obvious trauma and hardship the premature demise of their irreplaceable breadwinner has placed on them.

“Take note therefore that it is our clients’ firm instruction that in the event that you fail, refuse and/or neglect to accede to or proffer reasonable compensatory terms to our above modest demands within seven days from the date of this letter, we shall without any further correspondences from us, take appropriate legal steps to enforce our clients’ constitutional rights,” the letter read.