NURTW boss remanded in prison over murder

The Lagos State Chief Magistrate’s Court, Ebute-Metta, has ordered that  the chairman of Meran branch of National Union of Road Transport Worker (NURTW) Mr. Wasiu Onibudo, 62, be remanded in prisons custody over alleged offences of conspiracy and murder.
The Court presided over by Chief Magistrate Afolashade Botoku, made the order weekend, following an application for remand filed and argued before the court by the police prosecutors, Mr. Godwin O. Osuyi.
Osuyi informed the court that the application was filed pursuant to section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice of Lagos state, 2011.
He informed the court that the defendant was alleged to have conspired with others now at large to kill one Taiwo Ogunlaja, by stabbing him severally.
He further informed the court that the defendant committed the offence during a NURTW’s meeting held on December 3, 2015, at the Union’s headquarters, situated at 365, Abeokuta Expressway, Abule-egba, Lagos.
Praying the Court to remand the defendant, the prosecutor informed the court that the remand application was supported with a 10-paragraph-affidavit deposed to by Inspector Bartholomew Ali of IGP Monitoring Unit, Abuja, and attached with a charge sheet; a petition written to the police by Plenary Solicitors; the deceased photograph; medical certificate of cause of the death and a statement of a witness, named Ahmed Balogun.
He therefore urged the court to remand the defendant pending when the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) will issue an advice on the matter.
But lawyer to the defendant, Mr. Spourgeon Ataene, urged the court for discontinuance of the police’s remand application by considering Section 264 (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(9) and (10) of ACJ of Lagos state, 2011.
However, Chief Magistrate Botoku while dismissing the objection raised by Spourgeon, ordered that the accused be remanded in prisons custody for the first 30 days, pending when DPP will issue an advice on the matter.
The Chief Magistrate also ordered the police to duplicate the case file and forward it to DPP for advice.
The matter has been adjourned till February 29.