Law enforcer shoots woman, hides corpse in pit

 

Ebute Meta Magistrate Court
| credits: File copy

The police have arrested a member of the Lagos State local security outfit, Neighbourhood Watch, Jelili Falana, for the murder of a woman, Afolashade Salami.

The police also accused the defendant of hiding Salami’s corpse inside a pit in a bid to cover up the crime.

Our correspondent learnt that the incident happened at the vigilante office in Agege, Lagos State.

Salami, who sold drugs to people in the area, was said to have visited Falana on Sunday at the office for a chat.

The duo was said to be discussing when the 34-year-old suspect brought out a single-barreled gun he had recently seized from some armed robbers.

Falana, who is also said to be a member of the Odua People’s Congress, reportedly mishandled the gun and fired a shot which killed the deceased.

Our correspondent learnt that in an attempt to cover up the crime, he took the corpse out of the office and hid it inside a pit.

But his boss, Mr. Adekunle Adegoke, who was said to have been jolted by the sound of the gun was said to have run to the office to ask Salami what had happened.

It was gathered that the Akoko, Ondo State indigene feigned ignorance, but was given away by blood stains on the floor which Adegoke saw.

A mob was said to have gathered and threatened to avenge the deceased, but for the intervention of some policemen in the area.

It was learnt that the corpse was later found, while Salami was handed over to policemen from the Agege Police Division.

The matter was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.

Falana was arraigned on Tuesday before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court on two counts bordering on murder and illegal possession of firearm.

The police prosecutor, Inspector U.A. Moses, said the offences were punishable under sections 221 and 328 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2011.

He asked the court to remand Salami in prison, pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

He said, “The defendant was arrested for the offence of murder, which is triable on information.”

Moses said the police had already duplicated the case file and sent it to the DPP, adding that the state’s legal office had consequently acknowledged receipt of the file.

“Because of the issue of jurisdiction which may affect the treatment of the case here, we apply that the defendant be remanded in prison, pending the release of the legal advice,” he added.

The defence counsel, Ola Ogunbiyi, and F.C. Osordi, however objected to Moses’ remand application, saying the case was not murder.

Ogunbiyi urged the court to consider Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011, and re-examine the case to be able to admit the defendant to bail.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Y.B. Badejo-Okusanya, overruled Ogunbiyi’s application, saying the court lacked power to grant bail in a case involving capital punishment.

She added, “Having listened to the prosecutor and the circumstances of the case, the court is satisfied that there is probable cause for remand. The defendant is therefore ordered to be remanded in custody pending DPP’s advice.”

The matter was adjourned till July 28, 2014.

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