MICHAEL AKINOLA
Operatives from the Commissioner of Police Special Squad of the Lagoa State Command have arrested a 36-year old suspected cultist, who murdered a Police Inspector attached to Zone 2 Onikan Command in the State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Sulaiman Abass, was alleged to have conspired and intentionally murdered Inspector Sunday Apochi ‘m’ attached to Zone 2 Onikan, Lagos, by macheting and stabbing him all over his body, which led to his death.
After the dastardly act, they escaped and went into hiding while the Police were on their trail and eventually arrested the suspect and detained him at the Command for interrogation over the alleged murder.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable and consequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged murder under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The charges read:
“That you, Suleiman Abass ‘m’ and others at large, on the 23rd day of July, 2023 at about 1600hrs, at Ijanikin area of Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Murder and thereby committed an offence Contrary to and Punishable under Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
COUNT II:” That you, Suleiman Abass ‘m’ and others at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully and intentionally kill one Inspector Sunday Apochi ‘m’ attached to Zone 2 Onikan, Lagos, by macheting and stabbing him all over his body, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence Contrary to Section 222(1)(2) and Punishable under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”
COUNT III:”That you, Suleiman Abass ‘m’ and others at large, sometimes in the year 2015 at about 1400hrs, at Ijanikin area of Lagos State, In the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Membership of unlawful society and thereby committed an offence Punishable under Section 411 of he Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2021.”
OUNT IV:” That you, Suleiman Abass ‘m’ and others now at large, on the same date, me and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did belong to Aiye confraternity, which is proscribed by Law as unlawful society and thereby committed an offence Intrary to and Punishable under Section 2(3)(a)(b)(c) (d) of Unlawful Societies hibition and Cultism Law of Lagos State, 2021.”
However, the Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice.
Thus, the Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, ordered his 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 the DPP for advice.
The matter was adjourned 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.