4 OPC Men Face Trial For Murder

The Police in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, have arraigned four members of the Oodua People’s Congress, OPC, before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting at Oyingbo, Ebute Meta, Lagos for allegedly killing a suspected cult member.

The OPC members facing murder charge are Saliu Saheed Okeboyelu, 26, Adekunle Raheem, a.k.a. Adex, 35, Jide Sunny, 27, and Musibau Garuba, 20.

The police alleged that the OPC members unlawfully killed the suspected cult member during a shoot-out between them on 22 April 2011, at Segun Magbon Village, in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.

They were docked on a two count-charge of conspiracy and murder.

According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Ekundayo, the offences are punishable under Sections 324 and 211 Cap. C17, Vol.ii, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.

Count two of the charge reads: “that you, Saliu Saheed Okeboyelu, Adekunle Raheem, a.k.a. Adex, Jide Sunny and Musibau Garuba, on 22 April 2011, at about 9 am. at Magbon Segun Village, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos, in the Lagos magisterial district did unlawfully kill Ahmed Balogun, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 211 Cap. C17, Vol.ii, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.”

They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Investigating Police Officer, IPO, Mr. Benson Ajie, told the court that two empty cartridges were recovered from the scene of the incident.

Counsel to the defendants, Prince Sola Opeodu, urged the court to order the IPO to quickly duplicate the case file and send it to the Director of Public Prosecution DPP for advice.

The trial magistrate, Mrs. Joy Ugbomoiko, ordered that the OPC members be remanded in prison custody, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice.

The case has been adjourned till 10 February 2012 for mention.

—Paul Sanusi