MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 25-year-old man, Suleiman Qudus, was arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba over allegations of conspiracy and unlawful possession of 19 pieces of live cartridges in Ijanikin area of Lagos State.
The defendant appeared before Magistrate Mrs. O. Kasunu on a two-count charge. The case was filed by the Commissioner of Police.
According to the charge sheet presented in court, the incident occurred on July 12, 2026, at about 10:30am at Ijanikin, within the Lagos Magisterial District.
The prosecutor, SP Phillip Ademigbuji, told the court that Qudus and others now at large allegedly conspired among themselves to commit a felony, to wit: unlawful possession of 19 pieces of live cartridges. The offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In the second count, the prosecution alleged that on the same date, time and place, the defendant had in his possession 19 pieces of live cartridges which he could not give a satisfactory account of how he came about them. The prosecution said the act was punishable under Section 330(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The charge sheet was signed by SP Banti Adamu, Officer in Charge, Command Tactical Squad 1, State Headquarters, Ikeja. The case was presented before the court at about 9:55am.
During arraignment, the prosecutor informed the court that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, needed to review the case file and provide legal advice, particularly regarding jurisdiction.
SP Phillip Ademigbuji applied for a short adjournment to enable the DPP to issue its advice on the matter. The prosecutor also noted that investigation is still ongoing and that other suspects mentioned in the charge were still at large.
After listening to the submission, the Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody at the Correctional Center in Kirikiri town pending the DPP’s advice and the next court date.
The magistrate adjourned the case for mention to allow the prosecution to present the DPP’s advice and to determine the appropriate court to handle the matter. The court did not take the plea of the defendant due to the pending legal advice.
The Information Police Officer listed on the charge sheet was Insp. Tawose Sunday of CTSQ-1 Ikeja. The case file was approved by the District Prosecutor’s Office, Ogba, under the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
Legal practitioners explain that matters involving ammunition and firearms often require the advice of the DPP to determine whether they should be tried before a Magistrate Court or transferred to a High Court, depending on the gravity and provisions of the law.
The court emphasized that the remand order will remain in effect until the next adjourned date. The prosecution was directed to ensure that the DPP’s advice is filed promptly and that further investigation, including efforts to apprehend other suspects, continues.
The case was adjourned for mention, and the court will review the DPP’s position on jurisdiction and possible transfer at the next sitting.