MICHAEL AKINOLA
A Police Inspector, Oche Joseph, is now lying critically ill at an undisclosed hospital after he was brutally attacked with a cutlass by a man, who attempted to murder him in a gruesome manner right inside the Police station in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Makinde Police Division, Mafoluku, Oshodi, where Inspector Joseph was attached as investigative Police officer.
The victim, Inspector Joseph’s survival was said to be uncertain because of the level of injuries he sustained during the brutal attack while he was performing his lawful duty at the station.
The man behind the attack, 39-year old man, Chukwuebuka Ekwueme, has been arrested and charged for attempted murder.
What would have made the suspect, Ekwueme, to have summoned courage to carry the cutlass and enter the Police Station to probably to murder Inspector Joseph was not disclosed by the Police.
According to Police, the 39-year old Ekwueme allegedly inflicted fatal injuries on Joseph by using the cutlass to attack him, which has endangered his life.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and subsequently charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for allegedly attempting to kill Inspector Joseph by causing grievous bodily harm on him.
The Police prosecutor, Inspector Felicia Okwu, told the Court that the defendant committed the offence on 17th April, 2023 and the offence committed is punishable under Section 230(a) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The charge read, “That you, Chukwuebuka Ekwueme, on April 17, 2023, around 10.05am at Makinde Police Station, Mafokuku, Oshodi in the Ikeja Magisterial District did attempt to murder one Inspector Oche Joseph by using a machete to inflict fatal injuries on the back of his head and right hand, causing him grievous bodily harm and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 230(a) (b) Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015″.
The Court did not take his plea when he was arraigned following a motion moved by the prosecutor asking the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for advice.
Hence, the Presiding Magistrate, Patricia Ojeh, ordered the defendant to be remanded in custody pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice and directed the prosecutor to the file and send it to the DPP.
The matter was adjourned pending the outcome of the DPP’s advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.