Oba of Egbin, Seven Others Remanded In Prison

An Oba of Egbin in Ikorodu, Oba Adeoriyomi Obateru, 48 and seven others were yesterday arrainged before a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ikeja, over an alleged murder of one inspector Ikpi Ikipi. The
presiding Magistrate, Demi-Ajayi, ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum prisons.

The others suspects are Oderinde Olawole 51, Saliu Bilinu 43, Hassan Otija 25, Yaya Olaiya 26, Kamolu Odunbanjo 30, Yusuf Sulaimon Alabi (alias Suddan) 33 and Adesina Ojo 32.

The defendants who were docked before Chief Magistrate O.A Demi-Ajayi, are facing eleven-count charge of conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, robbery, terrorism and unlawful confraternity,   preferred against them by the police.

The defendants and others at large, were said to have committed the alleged crime between 21 and 22 of May 2013, at Imowonla Village in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

When the charge was read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to the eleven count charge preferred against them by the police but their plea was not taken.

The prosecutor, Acting Superintendent of Police  Chukwu Agwu, told the court that  Oba Obateru alongside  others committed the alleged crime on May 22, 2013, at about 2.25am at Imowonla Villiage in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

He said that the Oba unlawfully killed one Inspector Ikpi Ikpi, aged 45,who was attached to Mopol 22 Police Squadron in Ikeja, by shooting him with a gun.

Agwu, said that Obateru and the other defendants, attempted to murder one Corporal Iwaloye Olasunbo, with number F/NO 595875 and Corporal Daniel Amodu with NO 44541 attached to Mopol 22 Police Squardron Ikeja by inflicting cuts on their heads and all over their body with matchets, which caused them grievious harm.

Counsel to the Oba and second and third defendants, O. Fabunmi,told the court that the name of the first defendant is different from what is on the charge sheet, giving the supposedly right name as Akeem Adeoriyomi Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbin in Ikorodu via Ijede.

He said that it is the wrong person that has been brought to court, adding that the charge preferred against the first defendant is a wrong charge because of the name.

Fabunmi, urged the court to grant the first defendant bail in a very liberal term but the Magistrate refused his bail application on the grounds that the case before her is unlawful killings and as such she won’t grant him bail.

However Magistrate Demi-Ajayi, ordered that the defendants be remanded in Kirikiri Maximum prisons pending the DPP’s advice and adjourned to July, 29, 2013.