The Nation Newspaper

Tag: attempted murder

  • Two arraigned for attempted murder

    A 39-year-old woman, Ajoke Ali and a 23-year-old man, Ajadi Olayinka, were yesterday arraigned at an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for alleged threat to life and attempted murder.

    The defendants, whose residential addresses were not given, are facing an eight-count charge before Magistrate Mrs. O.O. Oshin.

    The charges bordered on conspiracy, stealing, forcible entering, malicious damage, threat to life, breach of the peace, assault and attempted murder, preferred against them by the police.

    Police prosecutor Ingobo Emby alleged that the defendants and others at large committed the offences on February 3, at about 10am, in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    Read also: Edo assembly condemns murder of four policemen in Afuze

    Emby said the defendants, of no fixed address, conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by assaulting Chief Don Chima, Don Chjima George, Segun Rasaq and others at De Lankaster Hotel Ltd.

    He alleged that the defendants wilfully and maliciously damaged a table, wristwatch, gold necklace and one iphone 7, property of the three complainants, valued at N5million.

    Emby also said the defendants threatened to kill Chima, by forcibly entering his house at 9, African Lane, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    The prosecutor alleged that the duo stole wristwatch, gold necklace and one iphone 7, valued at N4million, property of Segun Rasaq.

    They were accused of attempted murder, by placing heavy stones on the heads of the three complaints, while they were kneeling down.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Mrs. Oshin granted them N200,000 bail each with two sureties each in the like sum.

    She said the sureties must be tax compliant and have their addresses verified.

    The case continues on May 15.

     

  • Driving against traffic, attempted murder

    Driving against traffic is a common practice on Nigeria roads. This practice is prevalent in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory particularly the cities with heavy traffic flow. It has caused many vehicular crashes while a lot of innocent pedestrians have either been maimed or killed outrightly. It is, however, disheartening that many government officials, security agencies, traffic agencies and some highly placed Nigerians regularly commit this heinous traffic offence.

    Research revealed that people who drive against the traffic do so because they want to avoid being held up in traffic, take a short cut, bypass a longer route or rushing to meet up an appointment which is one of the effects of inadequate journey planning. No matter the reason, driving against traffic is a criminal offence which I want the government (Federal and State) to categorise as same with attempted murder.

    Overtime, the approved legal flow of traffic is usually registered in the subconscious of road users and the fact that a vehicle, tricycle or motorcycle can drive or ride against the traffic doesn’t register in their minds quickly. Hence the high number of innocent road users falling prey of the criminals driving against traffic. They are normally referred to as mad drivers or mad riders as the case may be. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and some state governments have prescribed psychiatric test for culprits of this evil practice.

    I hereby implore Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of government at the Federal and state levels to further criminalise this offence by tagging it as attempted murder and the same judgement meted to the culprits. In addition,the relevant traffic management agencies should significantly improve their monitoring and enforcement mechanisms without compromise. These when done, will eliminate the crashes, injuries and deaths caused by driving against traffic.

  • Driving against traffic, attempted murder

    Driving against traffic is a common practice on Nigeria roads. This practice is prevalent in all the States and the Federal Capital Territory particularly the cities with heavy traffic flow. It has caused many vehicular crashes while a lot of innocent Pedestrians have either been maimed or killed outrightly. It is however disheartening that many Government Officials, Security Agencies, Traffic Agencies and some highly placed Nigerians regularly commit this heinous traffic offence.

    Research revealed that people who drive against the traffic do so because they want to avoid being held up in traffic, take a short cut, bypass a longer route or rushing to meet up an appointment which is one of the effects of inadequate journey planning. No matter the reason, driving against traffic is a criminal offence which I want the Government (Federal and State) to categorise as same with Attempted Murder.

    Overtime, the approved legal flow of traffic is usually registered in the subconscious mind of road users and the fact that a Vehicle, tricycle or motorcycle can drive or ride against the traffic doesn’t register in their minds quickly. Hence the high number of innocent road users falling prey of the criminals driving against traffic. They are normally referred to as Mad Drivers or Mad Riders as the case may be. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and some State Governments have prescribed psychiatric test for culprits of this evil practice.

    I hereby implore Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of Government at the Federal and State levels to further criminalise this offence by tagging it as attempted murder and the same judgement meted to the culprits. In addition to this, the relevant traffic management Agencies should significantly improve their monitoring and enforcement mechanisms without compromise. These when done, will eliminate the crashes, injuries and deaths are caused by driving against traffic.

  • Court remands eight for alleged attempted murder

    An Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, yesterday remanded eight murder suspects in prison custody, pending advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

    The suspects are: Akinmuleya Abiye, 45; Juni Yagba, 48; Yusuf Agunbiade, 21; Taiwo Omosehin, 48; Ola Omosowone, 35; Samuel Agunyebi, 28; Michael Aladetan, 40 and Okunomo Tomola, 30.

    Chief Magistrate B. I. Bakare made the order following a charge of conspiracy, attempted murder, malicious damage, unlawful assault and conduct likely to cause breach of the peace brought against the men by the police.

    Before remanding the defendants, Bakare noted that the magistrates’ court had no jurisdiction to entertain a charge of attempted murder.

    He directed the police to apply for a remand warrant in line with Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJL) of Lagos State, 2015, following which prosecution counsel, Mr. Morufu Animashaun, made an oral application pending the DPP’s advice.

    Bakare granted his prayer and remanded the defendants till November 29.

    The police, in the temporary charge marked P/99/18, alleged that the defendants, on or about August 26, at Itun-Agan community, Tin Can Island, Apapa, Lagos, conspired and attempted to kill Omoshola Segun, Lot Ikuesan and Abudu Adekunle.

    They were also alleged to have unlawfully and maliciously damaged three buildings belonging to the trio of Segun, Adekunle and Asemudara Alaba, which were valued at N47.5 million.

    The police alleged that the suspects unlawfully assaulted Olorunyomi Elejuawa and Inspector Ogundipe Oluwaseyi, who was on duty of peace-making.

    The offences, according to Animashaun, are contrary to and punishable under sections 411, 230(1), 230, 339, 172, 174(a) (b) and 160(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Animashaun told the court that the Special Enquiry Bureau (SEB) of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, received a petition from Segun, which alleged that the suspects and others at large invaded their community, Itun-Agan.

    The petition was subsequently investigated by a team led by Mr. Samuel Olukayode, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), following which the suspects were arrested, the prosecutor said.

  • Man arraigned for ‘attempted murder’

    A 20 year old man, Samuel Akindele, has been arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for alleged theft of N789,000 and attempted murder of Mrs Alabi Abiola.

    Akindele is facing a three-count charge before Magistrate O. Sule-Amzat.

    Police prosecutor Inspector Benson Emuerhi said the incident occurred last September at Mrs. Abiola’s residence in Fagba, Agege area of Lagos.

    Emuerhi said the defendant attempted to steal N789,000 from Mrs Abiola.

    The alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Section  411 and 215 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    Akidele pleaded not guilty.

    He was granted bail for N200,000.00 with two sureties in like sum.

    Ms. Sule-Amzat adjourned until June 14 for trial.

  • Suya seller held for ‘attempted murder’

    Suya seller held for ‘attempted murder’

    A 40-year-old man, Halilu Abdullahi, has been arrested for the alleged attempted murder of a minor. The suspect claimed that he heard a strange voice telling him to kill the girl.

    Abdullahi, who hails from Sokoto State, was arrested behind Mainland Hotel at Oyingbo, Lagos Mainland, while trying to slit the throat of four-year-old, Alimotu Durojaiye on August 18.

    It was gathered that the suspect, who was initially taken to Denton Police Station, Ebute-Meta, has been transferred to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti, Yaba.

    According to a source, the suspect told the police that a strange voice told him to kill the girl.

    He also allegedly admitted that he had killed three other persons.

    The Nation gathered that Abdullahi, a mai suya, lured his victim with biscuit while she was playing with her peers around White Sand Market in Oyingbo.

    Another source said he abducted her and fled despite screams from her playmates and nearby traders.

    It was gathered that the suspect pinned the girl to the ground, raised his knife to kill her when a passerby, Muritala Mahmud, an Islamic cleric, saw him.

    Mahmud told The Nation that he accosted Abdullahi but the suspect bit his finger in an attempt to escape.

    He said: “I was returning from Lagos Island and I followed a back street to connect Oyingbo Market when I saw the man holding up a knife. I looked down and saw that he had a little girl on the ground and was about killing her.

    “I rushed and grabbed the man but he bit my finger and made to run. I held him still but there were other northerners around there and they came out and started beating me that I was fighting their brother.

    “I had to raise the alarm at that point and area boys, traders including the child’s mother came to the spot.  They now explained that the man kidnapped the girl while she was playing and they had been looking for her. He was then handed over to policemen at Denton Division.”

    The victim’s mother, Ashiatu Durojaiye, said her daughter was still in shock. She thanked God that the Islamic cleric saw the suspect before he could kill the girl.

    She said: “My daughter is still in shock. I was in the market selling my wares and my daughter was playing with other kids. But people started shouting my name around 3pm that someone had stolen my daughter. We looked for her everywhere but we could not find her.

    “Then, we later heard one Alfa shouting that one Hausa man wanted to kill a little girl and we went there. That was how he was caught and he was handed over to the police.

    “He claimed that he was doing it for survival and that it was one Alhaji that told him to be killing children. He said he doesn’t know what the man does with the bodies of the children but that he was doing it for survival and that he usually took the bodies to the man at Marine Beach. He also said he was not the only one doing it.”

    A police source confirmed the suspect was in custody, adding that two others- Akilu Isah and Abdullahi Salisu- had been arrested.

  • Attempted murder: Wike seeks prosecution of ex-Majority Leader

    •Swears in 13 local council committee chairmen

    The ghost of the past may have come back to haunt Mr. Chidi Lloyd, former Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, as Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has directed the re-appointed Rivers State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Emmanuel Aguma (SAN), to seek the former’s prosecution over the attempted murder of a member of the State Assembly, Mr. Michael Chinda.

    Governor Wike also directed the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice to ensure the conclusive prosecution of Mr Ojukaye Flag Amachree who is standing trial for the murder of a citizen of Asari Toru Local Government Area during one of the rerun elections.

    Wike spoke yesterday after swearing-in the reappointed State Attorney General and Commissioner and 13 Caretaker Committee Chairman of Local Government Areas. According to him, anybody who commits crime in the state must face the full weight of the law.

    He said: “The attempted murder of a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly must be conclusively prosecuted by the office of the Attorney General.

    “Also, the person involved in the murder of a citizen of Asari Toru Local Government Area during the rerun elections must be conclusively prosecuted. Nobody is above the law.

    “I don’t know how the person who was almost killed on the floor of the Rivers House of Assembly will feel seeing his assailant moving around freely? How will the family of the murdered Asari Toru Local Government Area citizen feel knowing that the alleged murder suspect is roaming freely without conclusive prosecution. “

  • MELAYE: POLICE ARREST KOGI LG CHAIR, 5 OTHERS

    MELAYE: POLICE ARREST KOGI LG CHAIR, 5 OTHERS

    •Senator stage managed attack, suspect alleges

    The police yesterday paraded the local government chairman of Ijumu, an ex-policeman and four others for allegedly attempting to kill Senator Dino Melaye

    The Senator’s residence was attacked by unknown gunmen at Iyara, Ijumu LGA in Kogi State on 15th April at about 0030hrs.

    One of the suspects paraded admitted to reporters he informed police operatives about the gang and its activities.

    To avoid suspicion, the police said the gang conveyed its members in an ambulance with the inscription General Hospital Iyara to the Senator’s residence.

    Those paraded are: 54-year-old chairman of Ijumu, Taofiq Isah ; Ade Obage, 29; Abdullahi Isah aka Eko, 32; Ahmed Ajayi, 45; Michael Bamidele26 and ex- Sgt Ede James, the 35-year-old orderly to the chairman at the time of the attack.

    The police also revealed that other suspects linked to the operation are still at large.

    They include  Abdulmumini  aka Iron; Osama  (SNU); Lukman aka General/Commander, China aka Lie down flat and Adamu Aloha according to the police.

    Items recovered from them include one ambulance Hyundai bus, five AK 47 rifles, one Berreta pistol,  two locally- made single barrel shot gun, 25 expended shells of 7.62 mm ammunition, 13 expended shells of 9mm ammunition and twelve expended shells gauge cartridge

    The police also displayed certificate of the ballistic expert examination, test and analysis carried out at the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Lagos.

    Pictures from the scene of the attack were also revealed to reporters.

    Some of the pictures showed several bullet holes on walls and cars.

    Briefing reporters in Abuja, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood highlighted the various roles played in the failed assassination of Melaye.

    He said: “Taofiq Isah, according to the investigation so far, is the mastermind of the executed attempted assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.

    “He was alleged to have directed one Abdulmumini aka Iron, now at large (who was said to be his Personal Assistant) and who in turn recruited other members of the vicious and notorious hired assassins’ gang.

    “Ade Obage voluntarily informed the Police that he has the knowledge and information about the attempted assassination/murder attack of Senator Dino Melaye after the attack was carried out.

    “He further informed the investigators that he was contacted to join the gang by Abdullahi Eko a principal suspect now in Police custody.

    “Abdullahi aka Eko, a native of Adavi town in Adavi LGA of Kogi State was arrested and he confessed to the crime and admitted to the criminal roles he played along with the other suspects in carrying out the attempted assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.”

    On the role played by the dismissed policeman, Moshood said: “Ex- Sgt Ede James is the police orderly to the principal suspect whose phone was used for communication for the planning of the failed assassination/murder of Senator Dino Melaye.

    “He was arrested with a serious criminal link to another principal suspect Abdullahi aka Eko who is an active member of the gang.”

    But Isah said the whole attack was stage managed.

    He admitted having political issue with Melaye but denied involvement in the attack.

    According to him: “This is a stage managed show. This interrogation has been on for long and when they brought me here today, I thought they wanted to take my statement again because I have written over seven statements since the commencement of the case.

    I have never seen the suspects paraded with me. There is so many political situations going on around in Kogi State and you can see that most of the people involved are Ebira people.

    “They have problems linked to the political situation in Kogi State.

    “This is just blackmail against the people of Kogi. I was shocked that I was linked to this because I am the Chief Security Officer of Ijumu LGA and the ALGON chairman of Kogi State. I will never involve myself in this kind of shabby deal.”

    On the allegation that the ambulance was found in his house, he said: “I was called when I travelled to Ilorin for APC membership registration and we went to purchase some items for the registration but I was called that my uncle was sick.

    “I told them that they should use the ambulance to take him to the hospital because he was an old and needed to undergo surgery. Before I returned, they did the operation but my uncle still died.”

    Isah maintained he had nothing to do with the attack.

    According to him: “It is a charade show because a statement by someone who went to the Commissioner of Police claimed that Dino brought in thugs to the village and he went and lodged them in a hotel.

    “It is the responsibility of the police to balance their investigations. He mentioned four names and the hotel they were lodged but they are yet to be arrested. This is a planned work.”

  • Agent, son charged with attempted murder, demolishing 43 houses

    Agent, son charged with attempted murder, demolishing 43 houses

    The police Force Investigation and Intelligence Bureau (FIIB), Abuja, has charged an Estate Agent Owoeye Mutairu and his son Ganiyu with invading 15 villages in Oko-Olomi Community, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos with armed thugs and demolishing 43 homes belonging to the residents.

    Mutairu, 67, of KM 36, Abeokuta Expressway, Ogun State and Olorunkemi, 42, of 5, Owoeye Street, Sango Ota, Atan Local Government, Ogun State, were arraigned yesterday before Mrs A. O. Awogboro of an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The police said the Owoeyes and others at large, invaded the 1561 hectares-sized community with guns with which they scared the residents away and heavy machinery with which they destroyed ‘different types of buildings.’

    According to the six-count charge pressed against them, they allegedly committed the offences on April 17.

    The defendants were accused of stealing 150 cows, a Pathfinder Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) valued at N2.5million, one Xtera SUV valued at N3.5million, a Toyota Camry car valued at N1million all properties of one Miniru Salia.

    Ganiyu was also alleged to have unlawfully attempted to kill one Saheed Oloore by shooting at him.

    The police also alleged that on October 14, at about 10am at Oko Olomi, it recovered from Ganiyu’s possession three pump action guns with Nos. 2856, 8976, 2598 and a double barrelled gun with two live cartridges.

    The alleged offences are punishable under Sections 409, 56, 285, 348, 228 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos 2011 and Sections ?27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act, Cap F28, F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Defence counsel Mr A. O. Isaacs urged the court to grant the defendants bail on liberal terms, since none of the offences attracted the capital punishment.

    He said the defendants had been in detention in Abuja since Tuesday last week and were brought to Lagos by the police by road, adding that the defendants had brought development to Oko-Olomi and owned property worth N400million in the community.

    Prosecuting Superintendent of Police Kehinde Oluwole opposed the bail application on the grounds that the case was still under investigation.

    Ruling, Magistrate Awogboro held: “The prosecution’s objection to bail is overruled because the offences are bailable. The defendants are hereby granted bail in the sum of N2million, with two responsible sureties who are to produce evidence of substantial means of livelihood. One of the sureties must be a blood relation.”

    The case was adjourned till December 15.

  • Man gets N500, 000 bail for attempted murder

    Man gets N500, 000 bail for attempted murder

    A Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on Friday granted N500, 000 bail to a 27 year-old-man, Ayomide Ilesanmi, who allegedly attempted to kill one Okwudili Obiora by pushing him down from a storey building.

    The Court’s Magistrate, Mrs Ipaye Nwachukwu, granted the accused bail with two sureties in like sum after he pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge of conspiracy, attempted killing, breach of peace and assault.

    Nwachukwu said one of the sureties must be a property owner in Lagos State, while the other should be a blood relation of the accused with evidence of tax payment and verified addresses.‎

    ‎The Prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, told the court that the accused and others now at large committed the offence on Nov.1 at Motor Spare Part Plaza in Itire area of Lagos at about 3.00p.m.

    Osayande told the court that the accused pushed down Okwudili Obiora from a storey building which caused him bodily harm.

    “Obiora is battling to survive in an hospital here in Lagos,’’ she said.‎‎

    She alleged that there had been an existing rift between both parties over “hi-jack” of a customer.

    ‎The prosecutor said that the offences contravened sections 166(d) 171, 228(2) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.‎

    ‎The magistrate adjourned the case till Dec. 15 for mention.