CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
Three men have been remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, after they were arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court over alleged armed robbery and alleged unlawful possession of a locally made gun in Yaba.
The men are Azeez Sulaimon, 23, Yusuf Tijani, 27, and Timileyin Oyetola, 24. They were arraigned on Charge No 12525, Commissioner of Police versus Azeez Sulaimon and two others.
The prosecutor in the case is SP Josephine Ihkayere, while the matter was heard before Magistrate Mr L. A. Owolabi.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to the charge sheet, the three men and others now at large were alleged to have conspired amongst themselves on the 20th day of July, 2026, at about 2230 hours, at Abule-Oja Area of Yaba, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, to commit felony to wit, unlawful possession of one locally made gun with four live cartridges.
The charge states that the alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 297 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
In Count Two, the police alleged that the three men and others still at large, on the same date, time and place, whilst armed with one locally made cut to size single barrel gun, allegedly robbed one Infinix Hot 60i phone valued at One Hundred and Seventy Six Thousand Naira, property of one Enitan Oladimeji.
The police said the alleged offence is contrary to Section 296 and punishable under Section 297 (2) (a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The complainant in the matter is listed as Enitan Oladimeji. The case was investigated by the Command Tactical Squad 1, State Headquarters, Ikeja, under the Officer in Charge, SP Banti Adamu. The Investigating Police Officer is listed as ASP Omoniyi Benjamin.
After the charges were read to the defendants, the Magistrate ordered that they be remanded in the Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town pending the outcome of the advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
The court did not take further steps on bail at this stage, as the matter is awaiting DPP advice, which will determine how the case will proceed. The remand order means the defendants will remain in custody until the DPP gives its legal advice and the court gives further direction.
The case is part of ongoing efforts by the Lagos State Police Command to tackle alleged armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms in densely populated areas like Yaba and its environs. Abule-Oja, where the alleged incident happened, is a busy student and residential area, close to the University of Lagos, and residents have in recent times complained about night time robbery and harassment by suspected hoodlums.
Police sources say the Tactical Squad acted on intelligence and arrested the suspects in connection with the alleged incident, after which the locally made gun and cartridges were allegedly recovered. The exhibits are expected to form part of the evidence if the DPP advises that the case should proceed to trial.
Legal experts explain that a remand pending DPP advice is a normal procedure in serious criminal matters in Lagos State. It does not mean the accused persons have been found guilty. It only means the court is waiting for the DPP to review the case file and advise whether there is enough evidence to prosecute the defendants, and before which court the matter should be tried.
If the DPP advises that there is a case to answer, the matter will proceed to trial, where the prosecution will be required to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt, and the defendants will have the opportunity to defend themselves. If the DPP advises otherwise, the court will act accordingly.
As at the time of filing this report, no date for the next hearing has been made public, and the court is expected to give further direction after the DPP advice is received.
Residents of Abule-Oja are advised to report any suspicious movement to the nearest police station and to avoid moving alone at night in dark areas.