Get Guardian on Google• Accuses Attorney-General of shielding attackers
• I’ll never allow justice system to be used to settle scores, says AG
After three years of seeking justice over an alleged assault, the Odugboro family in Sagamu, Ogun State, yesterday appealed to the state government to intervene and ensure that their case against some young men was given a fair hearing.
The family called on the government to review the legal advice issued by the state’s Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), insisting that all offences established by the Ogun State Police Command’s investigations should be reflected in the charges against the suspects.
The appeal was made in Gbagada, Lagos, where the family expressed concern that the nine-count charges reportedly recommended by the police had been reduced to a charge of assault in the DPP’s legal advice dated February 26, 2026.
The incident reportedly occurred on August 14, 2024, when members of the family, including their mother and an elderly family head, attended a meeting at the Odugboro family land in Sagamu.
Recounting the incident, a family representative, Alhaji Azeez Ashiru, said they were allegedly attacked by a group of young men armed with dangerous weapons.
According to him, several family members were assaulted, while their vehicles and personal belongings were vandalised or carted away.
He said the items allegedly stolen included phones, money, jewellery, food, drinks, chairs and other valuables.
Ashiru also alleged that he was forcibly pulled out of his vehicle, molested and further humiliated by the suspects, who made him sit on the floor.
He said he contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) and the then Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Mustafa Alamutu.
According to him, a police patrol team led by an officer identified as ASP Raji later arrived but was initially overwhelmed by the situation before reinforcements were deployed.
He further alleged that some of the attackers wore camouflage resembling police uniforms and carried firearms.
The family representative said the police subsequently investigated the incident and made efforts to identify and arrest those involved.
He recalled that the then Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, now a Commissioner of Police, directed that the identities of the suspects and the weapons allegedly used be investigated.
He said the suspects were eventually arrested after six months but were granted bail and allegedly failed to return to answer questions concerning the case.
The family added that one of the suspects was later located at a dog shop in Sagamu, following which the Area Commander was contacted and police operatives deployed to the location.
Ashiru said the police investigation culminated in a recommendation for nine-count charges against the suspects.
However, he said the family became concerned after the DPP’s legal advice reportedly reduced the charges to assault, despite what it described as evidence of other offences, including the alleged theft of valuables using dangerous weapons.
He said the family had written to the Ogun State Ministry of Justice, requesting that the government take over the prosecution, and waited several months for the DPP’s advice.
“We are not asking for anything outside the law. We want the government to review the legal advice and ensure that all the offences established by the police investigation are properly considered,” he said.
The family maintained that its appeal was not intended to influence the judicial process or secure preferential treatment for any party, but to ensure that the allegations were fully examined in court.
It also called on the relevant authorities to allow the suspects to respond to the allegations through due judicial process.
The family urged the Ogun State Government and the Ministry of Justice to examine the police investigation, the recommended charges and the DPP’s legal advice to ensure that the case was handled in accordance with the law.
When The Guardian contacted the Ogun State Attorney-General, Oluwasina Ogungbade, he said:
“They have been everywhere to make the same complaints. They want the people they have issues with charged for armed robbery when the facts and justice of the matter dictate otherwise. I will never allow a situation where the criminal justice system will be used to settle scores or apply pressure on disputants in civil matters. I will share a speech I once delivered where I addressed the growing and disturbing trend.”
