MICHAEL AKINOLA
Two brothers, Gbenga Sunday Otegbola, 46 and Adeniyi James Otegbola,51, have landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly exhuming five dead human bodies from tombs and stealing artefacts buried inside them.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Otegbola village off Awolowo Way, Ikeja area of Lagos.
According to the Police, the suspects at night went and exhumed the dead bodies from the tombs and stole the items. But before they could escape, they were caught in the act.
The matter was reported to the Police at MAN Centre Division. They were arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found them culpable and charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
The charges read:
“That you, Gbenga Sunday Otegbola and Adeniyi James Otegbola and others now at large On the 25th of January, 2025, in the night time at Otegbola village off Awolowo way Ikeja Lagos, in the Ikeja Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT II:”That you, Gbenga Sunday Otegbola and Adeniyi James Otegbola and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the Aforementioned Magisterial District, did indecently exhume five dead human bodies from their tombs without lawful justification or excuse and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 165 and punishable under Section 165 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Gbenga Sunday Otegbola, 46 and Adeniyi James Otegbola and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did conduct yourselves in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by tampering with five tombs of five dead bodies belonging to Ajibode’s family at Otegbola village and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 168 and punishable under Section 168 (d)(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT IV:” That you, Gbenga Sunday Otegbola, 46 and Adeniyi James Otegbola and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the Aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal Artefacts buried with the five bodies which you exhumed and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
However, they pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Of. Kusanu, granted them bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.