Chief Magistrate Linda Yeside Balogun of Yaba Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos, has ordered the remand of one Lukman Azeez and Abiodun Sanyaolu, over alleged murder of Oba Odetola Olajide Ayinde, the Olu Of Agodo Town, Ewekoro, Ogun State.
The remand order was made sequel to the application brought before the court by the men of Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
The police lawyer, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, in urging the court for the order, said the application is pursuant to sections 264(1), (2) (3), (4) & (6) & 267 Of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2021; Sections 4 and 10 of the Police Act, 2020 and Sections 6 (6), 35 (1)(C)(5) and (7) (a) of the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).
Animashaun asked the court for the remand the two suspects in police custody at Police Zonal Monitoring Unit, Zone 2 Onikan, Lagos, for the period of 30 days, pending when the police would conclude it’s investigation in a case of conspiracy to murder, murder, arson and attempted murder against them.
Chief Magistrate Balogun, after listening to the argument of the prosecutor said, “I have listened to the the submissions of applicant’s counsel, and perused the motion ex parte and the affidavit deposed to by ASP Adeyemi Akeem, and the written address attached with the motion paper.
“I find reasons in the application and thereby order that the two suspects be remanded in the custody of the Police at Police Zonal Monitoring Unit, Zone 2 Onikan, Lagos, for the period of 30 days, to enable the police to conclude their investigations.
“The matter is hereby adjourned to March 11, for report of Investigations”.
Police in its affidavit, deposed to by ASP Adeyemi Akeem, attached to Zonal Monitoring Unit, Zone 2, 0nikan, Lagos, stated that he is one of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) who is investigating a case of conspiracy to murder, murder, arson and attempted murder against the suspects, and that the facts deposed to in the affidavit are within his personal knowledge and those he received in the cause of his investigation as one of the Investigating Police Officers (IPOs).
He stated that the respondents were arrested in connection with a case of conspiracy to murder and murder of His Royal Highness, Oba Odetola Olajide Ayinde, the Olu Of Agodo Town, Ewekoro, Ogun State, arson and attempted murder reported by Odetola Okuribido Royal family, on behalf of the entire Odetola Okuribido Royal Family against the respondents.
ASP Adeyemi stated that during investigation into the matter, the petitioners were invited, they volunteered their statements, stating how the alleged suspects conspired to commit the offence.
He stated that there are other persons connected in the matter, who are domiciled in other parts of Ogun state who need to be apprehended in connection with the case under reference, and that this will take extra efforts by the police to arrest the two respondent, to the extent of expounding his mobile lines, which eventually paved way in the arrest of the respondent in Ogun state.
The deponent stated that investigation in this matter will take the police outside its jurisdiction to visit the locus in quo and also to recover more exhibits in connection with the case under investigation.
The police added that the investigation into the case cannot be completed within 24 or 48 hours as stipulated by law for which the police can lawfully detain the suspect in their custody and that it is necessary to seek the order of the honourable Court for an order to remand the suspects/respondents.
ASP Adeyemi stated that investigation on the matter is still ongoing as the suspects are the only person who knows the whereabouts of other suspects now at large, stating that, releasing them on ball will interfere with the ongoing police investigation and may tamper with the case, stressing that, that the presence of the suspects with the police is necessary to help in a proper investigation of this case.
