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The family represented by Mrs. Kehinde Enifeni and Alhaji Abdul Ganiyu Olayiwola Enifeni yesterday at a press conference in Lagos, picked holes in the Federal Government's submission last week that the suspect committed the crime.
The family described the government's story as "cock-and-bull." It also wondered why investigation into Ige's death earlier declared closed by the police would be re-opened at the twilight of the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
The Enifeni family explained that although their son was arrested in August 2001, he entered into a plea bargain. They also claimed that before then, Moshood Enifeni had never been linked to any criminal or drug activity. Describing him as a "cool-headed, strong Awoist and successful businessman who could not hurt a fly not to talk of being behind the killing of the former minister.
"The fact that he entered a plea bargain in his trial shows that at that time, there was no acrimonious and bitter trial going on. Bola Ige appeared just once in the case, and when he saw it was not going to be a full, long-drawn trial, he stopped coming. There was absolutely no ill-feeling between Alhaji Enifeni and Bola Ige," Mrs. Enifeni said.
The family also wondered why the police had to parade the accused, describing the action as negating the principle of assuming that a suspect remains innocent until proven guilty by a court and also could prejudice his trial. Similarly, they pooh-poohed the police's theory that the masked informant who was paraded along Enifeni last week over-heard the suspect and some people planning to kill Ige.
"What is the name of this masquerade? How credible is the account of a former convict walking into a police station six years later after the commission of a crime to say he knows something about it? What offence was he convicted for? How come the name of the cell he mentioned was non-existent at the time in the prison? Is Sunday Ehindero telling the nation that this is the "big breakthrough" they have achieved in a case as important as that of Ige?
Mrs. Enifeni decried the continued detention of the suspect, urging the government to charge him to court if it was sure of its facts. The family was also miffed by the government's ignoring the order of an Abuja High Court that Enifeni be released.
The family urged the police to close the case against Enifeni or be faced with a court action.
Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, who has been briefed to handle the case, was also at the press conference.
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