Ebute Meta Magistrate Court
The Lagos police have arraigned five men before
an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos State for allegedly killing a
23-year-old man, Damilayo Ayodele.
The defendants, Emmanuel Eguku (23), Adefemi
Qudus (24), Odukoyo Deji (23), Hoteyin Oladeji (29) and Emeka Ekenjoku (32),
were arraigned on Monday on three counts of belonging to an unlawful society and
murder.
It was learnt that the men were members of the
Aiye Confraternity.
The first three suspects were said to have had a
meeting on December 7, 2014 to plot how to kill another suspected cultist in the
Eiye Confraternity, a rival group.
Our correspondent was told that no sooner did
they finish the meeting and left, than they met the victim passing along the
Oriokuta Road, Imota, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.
One of them was said to have shot him in the
neck, killing him on the spot.
Police investigations, however, led to the arrest
of the suspects.
The Investigating Police Officer, Corporal Felix
Usogu of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, in a remand
application he submitted to the court, said the police recovered exhibits and
fingerprint evidence from the suspects.
He added that Eguku, Qudus and Deji confessed to
be among the killer-gang, while Oladeji and Ekenjoku were members of their
group.
The police arraigned the first three suspects for
conspiracy to commit murder and cultism, while the others were charged with
cultism.
The charges read in part, “That you, Emmanuel
Eguku , Adefemi Qudus, Odukoyo Deji, and others at large on December 7, 2014, at
about 1.30pm, at Oriokuta Road, Imota Ikorodu, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial
District, did unlawfully kill one Damilayo Ayodele, aged 23 years, by firing him
in his neck with a locally-made pistol.”
The representative of the police prosecutor,
Inspector Ali Uwesuri, said the offences were punishable under sections 231 and
221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
No plea was taken for the capital offence, but
the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge of belonging to an unlawful
society.
Uwesuri said, “The first three defendants are
being arraigned for murder. We apply for their remand in prison for the first 30
days, pending the release of legal advice from the Directorate of Public
Prosecutions. The period will also enable us amend the charge sheet to reflect
other development.”
The defence counsel, Hassan Olanrewaju, applied
for the bail of the last two defendants.
He said, “A quick look at count three indicates
that the alleged offence is a misdemanour, which is a bailable offence. I
therefore apply for the bail of the fourth and fifth defendants in liberal
terms.”
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Tunbosun Abolarinwa,
granted the police request to remand Eguku, Qudus and Deji in prison, but
granted bail to Oladeji and Ekenjoku in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties
in like sum.
The matter was adjourned till March 19, 2015 for
legal advice from the DPP.
Culled: Punch
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