Kunle Adelabu
Four of the suspects in the murder of Ifeanyi Etunmuse Godfrey, a 52 years old staff of Western Funeral Home Limited, Ijede, were brought to court on Monday, January 31, 2022, after the Chief Magistrate sitting in Court 2, Yaba Magistrate Court, had called the case and adjourned it.
His Honour, Mrs A.O. Olatunbosun sat around 9am and adjourned the matter in Suit No: MISC/MCY/766/21 with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) as the Applicant, till February 23, 2022, for the execution of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) Advice.
The Defendants in the matter are Atunrase Sodiq Omolabi, Male, 28 years, Shittu Michael Olawale, Male 28 years, Olaide Opeifa, Male, 40 years and Olanrewaju Adebiyi (a.k.a. Maja), Male, 35 years.
While the Magistrate was seated, there was no representation from the Police or other parties to the matter.
It was after the court rose around 9.17am and the Magistrate retired to her chamber that armed warders brought the suspects with a big truck painted green at 9.29am. Suspects who were cuffed to one another, were moved into the Magistrate Court cell where they were until 12pm when our reporter left the court.
A reliable court source who spoke with our reporter, said that suspects cannot be arraigned again on the day after the court had risen and adjourned the matter.
In the application before the court, the matter was first brought to the court on September 20, 2021, through an application for remand pursuant to Section 264 (1) of the Administrative of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State 2015 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
In the case, the Applicant requested that the Defendants/Respondents be remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Facility, pending DPP’s and filing of criminal/arraignment in a court of competent jurisdiction.
The IGP also prayed for further order or other orders as the Court deemed fit.
In the affidavit in support of the application by one Inspector James Owunebi of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), he sworn on oath on ten grounds:
Owunebi alleged that the suspects murdered Ifeanyi Godfrey and that investigation has been concluded and a prima facie case of conspiracy and murder of the victim have brought against the suspects.
