Justice Oyindamola Ogala of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Monday ordered the remand of three men, Wasiu Akinwande, alias Olori Eso; Qudus Egbere, and Sola Tomiwa, for their alleged involvement in the murder of two men during a violent attack in Mushin, Lagos.
The defendants were arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and membership of an unlawful society, filed against them by the Lagos State Government.
At their arraignment, the state prosecutor, A. O. Azeez, informed the court that an amended charge had been filed earlier that morning.
The defendants’ counsel, Olanrewaju Ajanaku and M. D. Obadeyi, also announced their appearance before the court.
Azeez told the court that the defendants and others still at large allegedly conspired to kill two persons, identified as Bolanle Yusuf and Yusuf Ramadan.
He told the court that the incident occurred during a clash on July 31, 2024, at about 11:00 am, at Moshalashi Street, Mushin area of the state.
The prosecutor alleged that the victims were attacked with machetes and a gun, leading to their deaths.
He also told the court that Qudus Egbere and Sola Tomiwa allegedly belong to an unlawful society, identified as the Eiye Confraternity.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 223, 233, 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and Section 2(3)(a) of the provisions of the Unlawful Societies and Cultism (Prohibition) Law of Lagos State, 2021.
The trio pleaded not guilty to the offences.
However, counsel for the second defendant made an oral application for his client to continue on administrative bail, but Justice Ogala refused and directed that a formal bail application be filed.
Following their plea, the prosecution requested a trial date.
Justice Ogala adjourned the case until January 19, 2026, for the commencement of trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
Eso was first remanded by the Ogba Magistrate Court on August 5, 2025, by Magistrate Mobolaji Tanimola, in the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, over allegations of multiple murder.
The court ordered that the defendant be remanded for the first 30 days, pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Eso was charged with an 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms, membership of an unlawful society, possession of poisonous daggers, grievous bodily harm, threat to life, and possession of international arms by passports, and other dangerous arms.
The charges were preferred against the defendant by the Nigeria Police Force.
The defendant was arrested on June 20, 2025, in the Alagbado area of Lagos State, where he had absconded.
According to the police prosecuting counsel, Nosa Uhumwangho, the defendant and others still at large allegedly committed the offences on various dates between December 9, 2010, and April 5, 2025, at different locations within Lagos State, including Mushin, Idi-Araba, Surulere, and Fadeyi.
Uhumwangho told the court that the defendant, while allegedly in unlawful possession of an AK-47 rifle, shot and killed one Yusuf Bolakale (30) and one Yusuf Ramadan (23) at No. 11 Mosalashi Street, Mushin, Lagos.
He was said to have fled to the Alagbado area, where he was eventually apprehended.
The prosecutor further alleged that on December 9, 2010, at Tiamiyu Street, Fadeyi, the defendant shot and killed a 10-year-old girl, Aminat Lateef, while she was running an errand.
Uhumwangho also told the court that the defendant unlawfully possessed a cache of arms, including a K2 assault rifle (AR 72739), two AK-47 rifles (breach numbers 0275 and 5688), two locally made single-barrel pistols, 70 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 57 live cartridges, three walkie-talkies, and a poisonous dagger.
He said that the defendant allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for their possession.
In addition, Eso was accused of attempting to murder a 58-year-old woman, Awawu Ajalara, on February 17, 2011, by shooting both of her legs with an AK-47, resulting in permanent disability.
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