Two members of Black Axe (Aiye) Confraternity, Shafi Fatai, 40 and Yusuf Ismaila,35, have been arrested and charged in Lagos State for allegedly shooting a man, Sheriff Salami, to death during an operation.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 18th April, 2023, at Muba, Ajah area of Lagos.
After their arrest, they were charged before the Court for conspiracy, belonging to an unlawful society and murder under the Criminal Law of the State.
They are facing a four-count charge before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment and life imprisonment.
The prosecutor, Supol Josephine Ikhayere, told the court that the defendants, along with one Hammed Akaribi, still at large, committed the offences on 18th April, 2023, at Muba, Ajah, Lagos.
She alleged that the defendants unlawfully killed Sheriff Salami by shooting him on the stomach and hacking him on the head with an axe.
The prosecutor also said that the first defendant, Fatai, was a member of a proscribed group known as the Black Axe (Aiye) Confraternity.
She said that the offences contravened Sections 222(1), (2) and 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, as well as Section 2(3) of the Unlawful Societies and Cultism (Prohibition) Law of Lagos State, 2021.
However, the Court did not take their plea after the prosecutor asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The Court also directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for legal advice whle the matter was adjourned till 7th April, 2026, for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.