Lagos court remands 4 men in prison for attempted murder

Four men, who allegedly opened fire on six people including women, were on Tuesday in Lagos remanded in prison custody.

The accused — Akeem Adigun, 65; Tunde Imoru, 48; Jamiu Olokunola, 35; and Saidi Bashiru, 31 – are facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy and attempted murder at an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The Magistrate, Mr Nurudeen Layeni, who gave the order, said the pleas of the accused were not taken because the court lacked the jurisdiction to try the case.

He directed that the case file should be forward to the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice.

Layeni said on completion of police investigations and receipt of legal advice from the DPP the accused would be arraigned at a higher court.

On attempted murder charge, the magistrate admitted the accused to a bail of N1million each with two sureties each in like sum.

Earlier, the prosecutor, DSP Etim Nkankuk, told the court that the accused with others still at large had on March 20, 2013 at about 1.30 p.m. attacked a man, Tajudeen Jimoh, with a cutlass and injured him.

He said the accused also attempted to kill six people — Omolade Toibu, Iyabo Tijani, Bilikisu Tanimowo, Oluwatosin Sanni, Modinat Bashiru and Emmanuel Dada — by firing gunshots sporadically in their direction.

“There was a dispute over land ownership and the accused decided to take laws into their hands by shooting sporadically at the people they sighted on the land.’’

Nkankuk said the offences contravened Sections 221, 231 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The case has been adjourned to Aug. 17.