Court’s verdict

An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, south west Nigeria on Friday, ordered that the Baale of Osoroko community, in Ibeju-Lekki area of lagos state, Olusegun Oyiri, 61, and three others, be remanded in prisons custody, for allegedly killing and burying a Police Inspector.

Other three accused persons ordered to be remanded in prison custody alongside the community head are: 51 years old Akeem Balogun; Aroki Badiru, 66 and Nasiru Shakiru, 59.

The four defendants were alleged to have on 29 November 2016 at Osokoro community in Ebute-Lekki, Lagos, conspired among themselves and unlawfully killed Police Inspector Sunday Musa, and buried him in a shallow grave.

They were also alleged to have stolen his service rifle, AK 47, two magazines and 30 rounds of 7.62 live ammunition.

The court presided over by Magistate A. O. Salawu (Mrs.) ordered the four defendants to be remanded in Prison custody, while granting a remand application brought before the court by a Police, Emmanuel Eze, from State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).

In urging the court to remand the four defendants, Eze told the court that the application was asking for the remand order pursuant to section 264(1) and (2) of Administration of Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The plea of the accused persons were not taken.

However, lawyer to the community head, Mr. O. Ajanaku, urged the court to admit him to bail due to his status as community head.

He also told the court that the Baale never participated in the killing of the cop and that he was on adminitrative bail granted him by the Police, he was only called upon for an interview before he was brought to court.

However, the presiding Magistrate, Mrs A.O. Salawu ordered that the three defendants, except the Baale, be remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending legal advice from the office of the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP’s).

Thereafter she adjourned the case till August 31, for ruling in the bail application of Oyiri, the community leader, while September 21 was fixed for legal advice in the case of the other three accused persons.