Police arraign mother for killing son

The police have arraigned a 33-year-old mother, Margaret Odunlade, and two others, for allegedly killing her son, Tunde Sumola.

The police said Margaret, her sister, Olayemi Odunlade, and her second husband, Folorunsho Emmanuel, beat up the 13-year-old to death before dumping his corpse in the canal.

The incident happened on Emmanuel Street in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

It was learnt that Margaret had separated from Sumola’s father and was remarried to 40-year-old Emmanuel.

She was said to have on August 2 gone to the Ijebu Ode area of Ogun State to pick the boy from where he was staying with a guardian.

On getting home late in the night, her second husband was said to have refused to allow the boy into the house.

Margret was said to have taken him the same night to the Mowe area of Ogun State, to stay with her sister, Olayemi.

The police said the 13-year-old was later found in the canal with injuries over his body.

The three suspects were arrested and arraigned on two counts of murder.

The charge reads in part, “That you, Margaret Odunlade, Olayemi Odunlade and Folorunsho Emmanuel, on August 2, 2014 at about 6am, at Emmanuel Street, Maryland, Ikeja, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; murder.

“That you did unlawfully kill one Tunde Sumola, 13 years, by beating him and throwing him into a canal.”

The police, in a remand application brought before the court, said the suspects confessed to the crime and there were witnesses who would give evidence in court.

The police prosecutor, Asup Feddy, said the offence was punishable under sections 231 and 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria, 2011.

The defendants’ pleas were not taken due for lack of jurisdiction.

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

The defence counsel, Spurgeon Ataene and Beauty Otigih, however opposed the remand application.

Ataene said, “I am opposed to the application of the prosecutor based on Section 264(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011.

“I urge this court to conduct a preliminary enquiry into this matter to see whether there is probable cause for remand. The Investigating Police Officer is in court and it is within the ambit of this court to conduct an enquiry. We are not asking for a bail, we are saying the court should hear the facts and make a decision.”

The Magistrate, E.O. Ogunkanmi overruled the application for preliminary enquiry, as the prosecutor insisted there was no need for it.

Ogunkanmi said, “I believe the DPP can handle it. Let’s give them the first 30 days to look at the case and make a decision. The defendants are hereby ordered to be remanded pending legal advice from the DPP.”

The matter was adjourned till September 24, 2014.

PUNCH