An Ebute-Meta Magistrates Court in Lagos State said on Tuesday that it had yet to receive the Directorate of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP’s) advice on the murder charge filed by the police against a house help, Joseph Ogbu.
Magistrate O. A. Olagbende adjourned further proceedings till October 24, or for 86 days.
She gave the long adjournment because the court will be on vacation between August and September.
Olagbende noted that the adjournment should have been for 30 days.
She, however, observed that depending on the DPP’s report, the Lagos State Government could take over the case and transfer it to the high court during the adjournment period.
The court remanded Ogbu, 22, in Ikoyi Prison on June 27, following his arraignment by the police on a temporary three-count charge of murder and stealing.
He was accused of killing his 89-year-old employer, Adejoke John, and her 36-year-old daughter, Oreoluwa John, on June 19, barely two days after he was employed.
The State Criminal Investigation Department (SCIID), Yaba, Lagos alleged that Ogbu stabbed Oreoluwa to death after she turned down his demand for N4,000 on the second day of his employment.
He, afterwards, strangled Mrs. Adejoke John.
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Police counsel O. W. Ologun said the defendant committed the offences on June 19, at about 10pm, at his employer’s 4, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere, Lagos home.
He alleged that the defendant stole his employer’s Toyota Camry car, Gionee, Itel and Nokia phones, a power bank, a pair of scissors, two cutlasses, an LG Plasma TV and a handbag containing clothes and towels.
According to him, murder contravenes Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, while stealing offends Section 287 of the same law.
Ogbu was not represented by a lawyer.
An Investigative Police Officer (IPO), who did not identify himself by name, also narrated how Ogbu allegedly killed the women.
He said: “On June 18, the deceased employed him as her house help. The next day, he accosted her that he needed N4,000. The deceased’s daughter said ‘when did you come that you are already demanding money?’ That was when he had an issue with the daughter and he stabbed her several times in the stomach and she fell and died. The mother was inside her room hearing them. The daughter was saying ‘Mummy! Mummy! Joseph has killed me! Joseph has killed me!’ As she (the mother) tried to come out, he grabbed the 89-year-old woman and strangled her. That was around 9pm. He was there until around 2am. He then took the key of the deceased’s car, opened the gate and drove out. He had earlier removed the plasma TV from the wall in the parlour and put it in the car along with other items.”
He said the defendant was caught by security men on the street as he tried to drive off.
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