11/03/2016

DPP clears seven alleged killers of NURTW chief

The seven suspects arrested and arraigned before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, in connection with the alleged killing of a leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers on the Lagos Island, Azeez Otun, aka Ashake, and two others, have been exonerated by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

The seven suspects – Ahmadu Kazeem, 43; Ibrahim Afolabi, 37; Lawal Lateef, 27; Anthony Qudus, 33; Adeshina Ibrahim, 28; Adebayo Ogunjimi, 25; and Animashaun Olubodun, 33 – were discharged and acquitted on Thursday.
The DPP, in its advice, called for the arrest and prosecution of five other suspects – Kazeem Oloko, Abass Adebola, Mustapha Akindele, aka Sego, Fatal Olori, aka Agbara, and Alli Balogun.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Ashake, Rilwan Saka and Obabiolorunkosi Nurudeen were shot dead by some political thugs after a rally of the Peoples Democratic Party on September 20, 2014, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan.
After the alleged killing, the police arrested the seven suspects and brought them before the Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku-led court, which granted the remand application brought by the police, pending the advice from the DPP.
However, in absolving the suspects of the alleged murder, the DPP in its advice with reference number LJP/HOM/2016/02/13, dated February 23, 2016, and signed by one M. T. Adewoye, an Assistant Director, stated that the prosecution failed in establishing the culpability of the suspects.
The advice read in part, “After carefully considering the facts available in the duplicate case file, this office is of the view that there are insufficient facts to establish a prima facia case of conspiracy to commit murder and murder, contrary to sections 409 and 221 respectively of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011, against all the suspects herein.
“Facts in the duplicate case file revealed that on September 20, 2014, there was a rally organised by members of the PDP, at the TBS, Lagos Island, and after the rally there was a clash between the supporters of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress, at Isale-Eko which resulted in the death of Azeez Otun, a member of the APC.
“Facts further revealed that there was a reprisal at Enu-Owa in Lagos, and three persons identified as the PDP members were shot dead.
“The facts in the case file disclosed that all suspects were not arrested at the scene of the crime, and neither were they arrested with a gun. Suspects were arrested by the police based on suspicion through raiding. Moreover, most of the suspects raised defence in alibi relating to their location at the time of the incident, which were corroborated by other suspects and were also affirmed and admitted by the police in their investigative reports.
“In view of the above, this office shall not prosecute all suspects herein – Ahmadu Kazeem, Ibrahim Afolabi, Lawal Lateef, Anthony Qudus, Adeshina Ibrahim, Adebayo Ogunjimi, Animashaun Olubodun – for conspiracy felony and murder contrary to sections 409 and 221 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos, 2011, and thus should be released forthwith.
“However, there are witnesses’ statements confirming that Kazeem Oloko, Abass Adebola, Mustapha Akindele, aka Sego, Fatal Olori, aka Agbara, and Alli Balogun are all involved in the death of the deceased persons and thus should be arrested.”

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