Gang kills 68-year-old for hitting man with fetish ring

 

A gang in the Ketu area of Lagos State has tortured to death a 68-year-old man, Nasirudeen Ajawesola, for allegedly hitting a resident of the area with a fetish ring.

 

It was gathered that the resident, who could not be identified as of press time, subsequently fell unconscious. The incident happened on Osokoya Street, Ketu.

 

The police were, however, able to apprehend a member of the group, Abiola Ogunmola, who was the elder brother of the resident.

 

It was gathered that on the fateful day, the deceased’s first son, a vulcaniser, had ran home to call his father to report that he was being forced to participate in a community work going on in the area.

When Ajawesola arrived at the scene, an argument was said to have started, which led to a fight.

 

In the ensuing confusion, Ajawesola allegedly slapped the brother of the suspect with a fetish ring.

 

The victim was said to have fallen down and became unconscious.

 

The suspect insisted that Ajawesola must revive his brother, and when he could not, Ogunmola and his gang took him into custody.  They were said to have tortured him to death.

 

Policemen from the Ketu division were, however, able to apprehend only 30-year-old Ogunmola, while other members of the gang fled.

 

The police said he confessed to the crime, though no exhibit was recovered from him.

 

He was arraigned on Thursday before the Ebute Meta Magistrate’s court on two counts of murder.

 

The charge read, “That you, Abiola Ogunmola, on November 8, 2014, at about 11am, at Osokoya Street, Ketu, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; murder, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

 

“That you did unlawfully kill one Alhaji Nasirudeen Ajawesola, aged 68 years, by torturing him to death and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”

 

Ogunmola’s plea was not taken.

 

The police prosecutor, Inspector Asu Feddy, applied for his remand in prison pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

 

He said, “Our application is brought pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State. The remand is to enable us get legal advice from the DPP.”

 

The magistrate, E.O. Ogunkanmi, ordered the remand of the defendant in the Ikoyi Prison.

 

The matter was adjourned till May 3, 2015 for the DPP advice.