An Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court has remanded 23-year-old Lateef Amoo for allegedly stabbing a landlord, Lateef Salami, to death in the Itire area of Lagos State...
The Magistrate, Mrs. O.O.A. Fowowe-Erusiafe, said he should be kept in prison for the first 30 days permitted by law pending the release of legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
PUNCH Metro had reported that some hoodlums stormed Olorogun Street, Odo Eran, Itire on November 24, in search of one Balogun, who allegedly owed one of them N30,000.
When they did not find their target, they reportedly began venting their anger on residents.
The victim, who worked as a panel beater, was said to have asked the suspect to leave the area with his group.
Amoo, with the help of his gang, was alleged to have stabbed him until he slumped.
He died at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi Araba, where he was rushed to for treatment.
The suspect, who was arrested by the community, was handed over to the police.
He was arraigned on one count of murder.
The charge read, “That you, Lateef Amoo, on November 24, 2015, at about 11.30am, at Odo-Eran Market, Itire, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Lateef Salami, by stabbing him with a kitchen knife in his chest and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”
The defendant’s plea was not taken.
In a remand warrant brought before the court, the police said the defendant was arrested with a weapon and had confessed to the crime.
The Police Prosecutor, Kokoye Olusegun, applied for his remand in prison custody, saying the police needed to obtain legal advice from the DPP.
But the defence counsel, Spurgeon Ataene, urged the court to conduct a preliminary enquiry.
He said, “We oppose the remand application of the police pursuant to Section 264(1)(9) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
“My Lord is empowered by the section to examine the reason adduced by the police for the remand and if not satisfied, the court can admit the defendant to bail.
“This is a case of murder, which is a very serious offence. I have been reliably informed that my client was the one attacked.”
The magistrate called for the case file and after perusing the content, rejected the application of the defence counsel.
She said the case file showed that the defendant was stabbed to death with a knife and the defendant was culpable.
“The defendant is hereby ordered to be remanded for the first 30 days permitted by law, pending the release of legal advice,” she added.
The matter was adjourned till January 25, 2016, for legal advice.
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