2 Docked For Murder

Detectives at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos Southwest, Nigeria, have arraigned a security guard, Dele Alayande, 28 and Lekan Adigun, 68 before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, for allegedly killing a 25-year old man, Chidi Okoye, in November 2010 at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

Dele and Lekan were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, murder and possession of firearms without valid licence, offences which the police prosecutor, Inspector Ishaku Babaji, claimed are punishable under Sections 324, 319(1), 516 of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Vol. II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003 and Sections 324, 4 and 8 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section (1)(b) (ii) (iii) of the Firearms Act, Cap. F.28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The security guard, it was learnt, told the police that he mistook the deceased for an armed robbery suspect. The owner of the gun used in the shooting, Lekan Adigun, a retiree whose licence expired six years ago, was also arrested and charged to court.

Count one of the charge against them reads: “That you, Dele Alayande, Lekan Adigun on  6 November, 2010 at about 1.30 a.m. at Iju-Ishaga, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony, to wit, murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Vol. II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.”

Count two reads: “That you, Dele Alayande, Lekan Adigun on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did unlawfully killed one Chidi Okoye, aged 25 years by shooting him with a double barrel gun with S/No ZA Bala 280193 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Vol. II Laws of Lagos State Nigeria 2003.”

Count four reads: “That you, Dele Alayande, Lekan Adigun on the same date, time and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did unlawfully had in your possession one double-barrel gun with S/No ZA Bala 280193 and one expended catridge without a valid licence issued by the appropriate authority and thereby committed an offence contrary to  Sections 4 and 8 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section (1)(b) (ii) (iii) of the Firearms Act, Cap. F28, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge. The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. J. Ugbomoiko refused to take their but ordered that they should be remanded in prison.

The case has been adjourned till 4 March, 2011, for trial.

—Paul Sanusi, Abosede Agboola