By Sodiq Adelakun
A Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ebute Metta, Lagos State, has ordered the remand of two suspected hoodlums, Idris Ayinla, aka Western, and Gbenga Taiwo, aka Sooku, for alleged murder, rape and armed robbery, in the Oyingbo and Yaba areas of the state.
The Lagos State Police Command arraigned the defendants before Magistrate Folarin Williams on eight counts of attempted murder, murder, rape and armed robbery on Friday.
The defendants were accused of stabbing one Ojo Emmanuel to death with a knife on September 22, 2022, around 1:15 pm at Kano Street bus stop, Herbert Marcauley Way, in the Yaba area of the state.
They were also suspected to have threatened and raped a lady on the same day and at the same place and time.
The defendants were also accused of stealing over N5.5m from one Omotayo Edegbami on August 22, 2022, at Total petrol station, and from one Richie Wale on September 3, around 8.10pm at No 1 Library Road, all in Oyingbo, the Yaba area of the state.
The police prosecutor, Orobosa Osagiede, told the court that the offences were contrary to Section 296 and punishable under Sections 299, 297, 411, 223, 260, and 230 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.
The charge read in part, “That you, Idris Ayinla, aka Western, Gbenga Taiwo, aka Sooku, and others still at large, on August 22, 2022, around 1:15pm at Kano Street bus stop, Herbert Macaulay Way, Oyingbo, Yaba, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit armed robbery, murder, rape, attempted murder and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015.”
The defendants’ pleas were not taken.
Osagiede prayed the court to remand the defendants in prison custody pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
Granting the prosecutor’s plea, Williams ordered the immediate remand of the defendants in prison custody pending DPP advice.
The case was adjourned till February 13, 2023.