10 Suspects Arrested After Man, 80, Paid Assassins To Kill Son For Money Ritual

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

The Police operatives at the Lagos State Command have uncovered an organized crime and arrested 10 suspects including an 80-yeear old man, Yusuf Lawal, who allegedly paid N40,000 to assassins to kill his biological son, Musa Lawal, for money rituals. 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened between November and December, 2023, at Badagry area of Lagos, where they reside.

The key suspect, Pa Lawal, allegedly took N40,000, three bottles of dry gin and promised to pay N1m to two suspects, Ademola Akinlosotu, 32 and Sunday Padonu, 25, to kill his son, Musa Lawal, who they used for money ritual.

The suspects, Akinlosotu, Pandonu and others allegedly conspired, shot and killed the late Musa Lawal and two other victims identified as Lukman and Saheed, cut their bodies into pieces, burnt them, and they used the ashes to perform some rituals.

However, the money ritual, the purpose for which the victims were murdered, eventually did not work and the information later leaked. They were eventually arrested and detained by the Commissioner of Police Special Squad for investigation.

Those arrested in connection with the alleged murder included a woman, Muyibat Adeshina, 54, Amodu Wahab, 52, Ahisu Anago Godonu, 32, Hunsu Segun, 35, Dada Travis, 43, Kamori Aderibigbe, 54, Vijanenayin Padohu,73.

During the investigation, the suspects reportedly confessed their different roles in the killing of the victims and the Police found them culpable for the alleged dastardly act.

They were consequently charged before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy and murder, which attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.

The Court did not take their plea after the prosecutor, Inspector Lucky Ihiehie, moved a motion asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the seriously of the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Layinka, ordered their remand in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to DPP.

The matter was adjourned till 25th July, 2024, for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be ready, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.