“Fight for Justice: Protest Ensues as 15-Year-Old Case of Pregnant Woman’s Death Remains Unresolved”
A civil society organization, Justice and Equality For All Movement (JEFAM), staged a protest at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, calling for the release of the long-awaited investigative report on the death of a pregnant woman, Mrs. Shitua Aso. The protestors also demanded the prosecution of the prime suspect, Ms. Asabe Waziri.
The incident, which occurred on May 30, 2010, involved Asabe Waziri, an employee of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), allegedly hitting Mrs. Aso with her vehicle in front of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command in Garki 2, Abuja. Following the incident, the police launched an investigation but have failed to release the results of their findings, even 15 years later.
Barrister Moses Aham Akano, who led the protest, emphasized that the case should not be overlooked due to the passage of time. “The death of Mrs. Aso is a criminal matter, and the law cannot let the perpetrators escape justice,” Akano stated, insisting that the case is not statute-barred.
During the protest, Akano addressed journalists, stating, “We are here today to demand that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, release the investigative report. The family of the late Shitua Aso has been denied justice for far too long, and it is time for accountability.” He further stressed, “We will continue to fight for justice through legal channels until the truth is revealed.”
Akano also expressed concern over Asabe Waziri’s attempts to frustrate the legal process, urging the public to support the cause for justice. “We are not asking for anything other than justice for Mrs. Aso, who was pregnant when she tragically lost her life.”
In a related petition submitted in May 2024, the Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN) appealed to the IGP to release the police report, warning that failure to do so would prompt them to seek legal action to compel its release. GICN emphasized that the case should not be ignored and must be reopened for the sake of Mrs. Aso’s family.
The incident unfolded when Mrs. Aso accompanied her sister, Mrs. Nonto Ogunyinka, to the FCT Police Command to settle a dispute involving Mrs. Ogunyinka and Asabe Waziri. After the dispute was resolved, both women left, but an altercation along the stairway led to Asabe Waziri allegedly hitting Mrs. Aso with her car as she was driving out of the police premises.
