Court remands NURTW boss for murder

MAGISTRATE’S Court sitting in Ebute-Metta has remanded in prison custody the Chairman of Meiran branch of National Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW), Mr. Wasiu Onibudo, over allegation of conspiracy and murder.

The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku, made the order on Friday after application for remand filed and argued by the police prosecutors, Mr. Godwin O. Osuyi and Daniel Ighodalo, of the Legal Department of Lagos State Police Command, Panti, Yaba.

While moving the application, Osuyi alleged that the defendant conspired with others now at large to kill one Taiwo Ogunlaja, by stabbing him severally on the body. He further told the court that the defendant committed the offence on December 3, 2015 while having a NURTW meeting at the union’s headquarters situated at 365, Abeokuta Expressway, Abule-Egba, Lagos.

He, therefore, prayed the court to remand the defendant pending advice on the matter from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). However, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Spourgeon Ataene, prayed the court to discontinuance the police’s remand application.

He asked the court to look into the capable cause of the defendant’s action and therefore, urged the court to admit bail to his client pending an advice from the office of DPP.

After listening to their submission, Chief Magistrate Botoku, dismissed the objection raised by Ataene and ordered that the suspect be remanded in prison custody for the first 30 days, pending when DPP would issue an advice on the matter. 

The matter was subsequently adjourned till February 29, 2016.