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A Lagos State Excessive Court docket sitting in Ikeja on Tuesday sentenced a vandal, Clement Ododomu, to demise by hanging and Tiwei Monday to 16 years imprisonment on the Nigerian Correctional Service.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi who had handed down the decision on October 11, 2023, convicted Ododomu and Monday after he discovered them responsible of the offences of homicide and conspiracy.
The choose had reserved judgment for Tuesday, November 14, 2023, however the judgment couldn’t go on as a result of Nigerian Labour Congress strike motion.
Delivering the judgment on Tuesday, Justice Oshodi held that after a cautious consideration of info earlier than the courtroom and the manner of the convicts, which he termed as ‘unremorseful’, sentenced the convicts accordingly.
The choose held that the allocutus by the defence counsel, Mr Olusegun Akande, who had on October 11, 2023, prayed the courtroom to mood justice with mercy, was replied by the Director, Division of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins.
The convicts, who’re vandals, have been arraigned for killing seven officers of the Division of State Providers within the Ikorodu space of the state.
The choose mentioned: “The courtroom has thought-about the allocutus of the defence counsel. Nevertheless, the place of the legislation is binding to us all. As famous above, the primary defendant was convicted on counts one, 5, seven, 9, and 10, whereas the second defendant was convicted on counts one and 10.
“That is as contained within the data filed, dated January 13, 2017. The provisions of this part of the legislation are as follows: Rely one, the rely convicted the primary and second defendants.
“This rely is introduced opposite to Part 233 of the Legal Legal guidelines of Lagos State 2015, liable to a conviction of 14 years.
“On counts 5 and 7, the primary defendant on these counts, which is opposite to Part 233 of the Legal Legal guidelines of Lagos State, 2015, offers that anybody who commits homicide shall be sentenced to demise.”
In line with Oshodi, on rely 9, the primary defendant is introduced underneath Part 298 (3) of the Legal Legal guidelines of Lagos State, 2015, therefore, liable to not lower than 14 years however no more than 20 years imprisonment.
Additionally, on rely 10, each the primary and second defendants have been convicted underneath Part 410 of the Legal Legal guidelines of Lagos State, 2015, and are liable to 2 years imprisonment.
The choose held that the declare of defence that the defendants have been in Lagos for the funeral of their grandmother was a ruse.
Justice Oshodi held that the defence failed to supply important witnesses to corroborate the declare.
He, nonetheless, held that the prosecution was not capable of show that the second defendant was responsible of homicide.
Oshodi mentioned that the proof earlier than the courtroom confirmed that it was one Agbala and the primary defendant who killed the operatives.
The choose additional held that the prosecution was capable of show that the 2 defendants participated within the ambush of the operatives.
He, subsequently, discharged and acquitted the convicts on counts two, three, 4, six, and eight as a result of the prosecution was unable to show the allegations towards them.
Oshodi mentioned, “The courtroom has noticed the manner of the defendants and got here to the conclusion that they felt no regret with regard to the allegations they have been going through.
“They knowledgeable the courtroom that they don’t perceive the English language, whereas, within the recording, they each have been conversing in English.
“The Ododomu and Monday are hereby sentenced to imprisonment for 14 years for rely 10 and the primary and second convicts are hereby sentenced to imprisonment for 2 years for rely 9.
“Ododomu is hereby sentenced to imprisonment for 20 years. The phrases of imprisonment for each convicts will run concurrently.
“For rely 5 and 7, which the courtroom has discovered the primary convict responsible, the sentence of the courtroom upon you is that you simply be hanged by the neck till you be lifeless, and should God have mercy in your soul,” he mentioned.
The Lagos State Authorities had within the prices towards the convicts instructed the courtroom that the DSS obtained a misery name from an editor of Solar newspaper (title withheld) on September 14, 2015, in regards to the kidnap of his spouse at their residence.
It was mentioned that the state command of the DSS consequently dispatched a nine-man crew to hold out surveillance to establish the placement of the abductors who have been negotiating for a ransom.
The prosecution added that it was reported that within the night of that day, one of many DSS crew members, Mr. Martins Ajayi, despatched a misery textual content message to the command headquarters to the impact that the crew had been ambushed by vandals and their weapons seized.
In line with the prosecution, the convicts dedicated the offences on September 14, 2015, in Ishawo Creek, Ikorodu, Lagos.
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