15th July, 2013
An Islamic cleric, Alfa Lukeman Olamide, 30, and three other suspects, Kola Oladipo, 32, Ekene Ezenwa, 36, and Jude Ezeobi, 39, are now facing murder trial at a Lagos court for their alleged involvement in the death of a suspected thief, Suleman Jimoh in Ijora area of Lagos State, southwest Nigeria.
They were arrested by the police at Ijora Divison after Jimoh was lynched.
They were charged before Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s court with conspiracy and murder under the Criminal code.
The four suspects allegedly caught late Jimoh stealing in their area and instead of handing him over to the police for prosecution, they and other suspects at large allegedly beat him to death.
The incident happened at NEPA bus stop Ijora Badia Lagos where all the suspects reside.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the late Jimoh was actually beaten to death by angry residents after he was caught stealing.
It was not certain whether the suspects joined in beating Jimoh, but the residents confirmed that many people were involved in the beating.
According Alfa Olamide, the late Jimoh was caught by some of the residents stealing and they raised alarm and many people joined in beating him on the street and when he got to the NEPA bus stop, he fell down and died.
He said he was surprised when the police from Ijora Badia Division came to his house and arrested him with three other suspects and detained them at the station.
He said he was not even around when the incident happened.
“I am from Kwara State and I travelled when the incident happened. And when I came back I was told that Jimoh was lynched. But I was s urprised when the police came to arrest me said I was one of those who killed him,” he narrated.
When they were arraigned before the court presided over by Magistrate K.O.Ogundare, their plea was not taken.
Rather, the court ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody at Ikoyi, Lagos and their file should duplicated for DPP’s advice.
The matter was adjourned till 13 August 2013.
—Cyriacus Izuekwe