Pipeline vandals convicted for murder of 7 DSS personnel

 

IKEJA, Nigeria – A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted two pipeline vandals: Clement Ododomu and Tiwei Monday for th murder of seven officials of the Department of State Service at Ishawo Creek, Ikorodu, Lagos.

Justice Hakeem Oshodi however deferred sentencing of the convicts till November 14, 2023.The court found the first defendant,  (Ododomu) guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, murders, possession of firearms and felony. While the second defendant (Monday), was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and felony.

The prosecution had alleged that, on September 14, 2015, the Lagos State Command of DSS received a distress report from one Mr. Steve Nwosu from the Sun Newspaper about the kidnap of his wife at their residence.

The Command immediately dispatched a 9-man team to carry out a surveillance operation to ascertain the location of the kidnappers who were negotiating for a ransom.

However, in the evening one of the team members, Mr Martins Ajayi, sent a distress text message to the station saying that they had been ambushed by vandals and their weapons seized.

The two suspects were thereafter arrested and were arraigned on a 10-count charge of murder and possession of firearms contrary to Section 223 and 298 (3) of the Criminal Law, Cap. C. A Vol. 3, laws of Lagos State 2015. They entered a no guilty plea to all the charges. 

In his judgement Justice Hakeem Oshodi held that claim by defence that the defendants were in Lagos for the funeral service of their grandmother is a ruse because they failed to provide essential witnesses to corroborate their claims.

The court also held that the prosecutor has not been able to prove the charge  of murder against the second defendant since evidence before the court shows that it’s one Agbala and the first defendant that killed the operatives. 

Justice Oshodi further said that the prosecutor was able to prove the culpability of the two defendants for felony having participated in the ambush of the operatives.

 

He said that ” upon proper evaluation of evidence before the court, the convicts are discharged and acquitted on counts of 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 because the prosecutor was unable to prove the allegations against them. 

He noted that the prosecutor was able to prove that the first defendant,  Ododomu, is guilty of counts 1, 5, 7, 9 and 10 which borders on conspiracy to commit murder, murders, possession of firearms and felony. While the second defendant, Monday, is found guilty of count 1 and 10 which borders on conspiracy to commit murder and felony and consequently pronounced them guilty as charged. 

The defence counsel, Mr Olusegun Akande however prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his client.

In his response, Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins urged the court to convict them as prescribed by the section under which they were charged.