Attempted Murder: Court Remands Village Head, Another In Prison

Two community leaders, including the village head (Baale) of Ishawoland in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria, Chief Lekan Orisan and Kabiru Aboki Bada, 58 have been ordered to be remanded in Ikoyi Prison till February 7, 2011 over criminal allegations preferred against them.

A Lagos High Court judge, Justice Deborah Oluwayemi made the judicial pronouncement following their arraignment before her on a one-count charge of attempted murder filed against them by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice through the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP.

The accused persons were alleged to have attempted to murder one Shina Ibrahim on July 6, 2004 at Oke-Oko, Ishawo, Ikorodu.

The offence, according to the charge is punishable under Section 320(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Volume 2, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

The defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge but the prosecution had pleaded with the trial judge to remand them in prison custody on the strength of fresh evidence against them. The prosecution also urged the court to revoke the bail earlier granted them during the commencement of the case.

The accused had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy by granting them bail, assuring that they would make themselves available for trial.

According to the information filed before the court, seven persons, including security agents are billed to give evidence for the prosecution during the trial.