By Lukman Olabiyi
THE Lagos State Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ebute-Metta, has ordered the remand in custody of the Chairman of Meran Branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Mr. Wasiu Onibudo, over alleged conspiracy and murder.
The Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku, made the order on Friday, following an application for remand filed and argued before the court by the police prosecutor, Mr. Godwin Osuyi.
Osuyi informed the court that the application was filed pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Lagos state, 2011.
He told the court that the defendant was alleged to have conspired with others now at large, and killed one Taiwo Ogunlaja, by stabbing him to death.
He further told the court that the defendant committed the offence during a NURTW’s meeting held on December 3, 2015, at the Union’s Headquarters, at 365, Abeokuta Expressway, Abule-Egba Lagos.
The prosecutor told the court that the remand application was supported by a 10-paragraph-affidavit deposed to by Inspector Bartholomew Ali of IGP Monitoring Unit, Abuj. He said a copy of the affidavit, the charge sheet, a petition written to the police by Plenary Solicitors, the deceased photograph, medical certificate of the cause of the death and a statement of a witness, named Ahmed Balogun are attached to the application.
Consequently, he urged the court to remand the defendant in prison custody, pending when the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), will issue an advice on the matter.
However, Chief Magistrate Botoku while dismissing the objection raised by defendant counsel, ordered that the accused be remanded in prisons custody for the first 30 days, pending when DPP will issue an advice on the matter.
The Chief Magistrate also ordered the police to duplicate the case file and forward it to the DPP for advice.
The matter has been adjourned till February 29, 2016.