A Yaba Chief Magistrate, Adeola Adedayo at the weekend remanded police sergeant Samuel Philips in prison custody over the killing of 18-year old Monsurat Ojuade, in Surulere, Lagos.
Chief Magistrate Adedayo ordered the remand of the dismissed Sergeant for 30 days sequel to the motion filed and argued by police counsel attached to Criminal Investigations Department, Panti, Lagos, Nwabuisi Augustine. In the motion, he argued, the police has to abide by the advise of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), following the conclusion of Philip’s orderly room trial, that he be tried for shooting Miss Ojuade in the Ijeshatedo area of Surulere, On September 11, 2021
During the brief proceedings on Friday, the magistrate granted the application of the prosecutor for the remand of the accused for thirty days, pending an advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution, that will recommend the murder trial to hold at the High Court, which hears charges relating to capital offences.
Further hearing was adjourned to October 25.
The defendant was represented by Doyin Shobiye, while lawyer for the Ojuade Family, Israel Mbaebie, was also present in court.
Mr Mbaebie Urged the police to change its “stray bullet” narrative as to how the deceased died.
According to him, “… the bullet that killed Monsurat Ojuade was not a stray bullet but a case of premeditated murder on the part of the killer police.”
The lawyer also frowned at the failure of the police to make public its orderly room trial and the late notice the family got as to the arraignment.
“Our clients frown at this disrespectful and lackadaisical attitude of the police and also wonder how it has been easier for them to organise an orderly room trial of the so called killer police without making public their finding till date and now, arraignment without making public the full identity of the culprit as earlier demanded by our clients.”
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