Alleged murder: NURTW Chairman gets reprieve

The office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos, western Nigeria, has set the chairman of Idi-Araba Branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Lateef Akinpelu, A.K.A. Obey, 50, free of the alleged murder charges preferred against him and others by the operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS), Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island.


His alleged accomplice, Muritala Aweniya, a.k.a. Horsepain, 26, was however not lucky as the DPP advice declared that a prima facie case of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder and being a member of an unlawful society contrary to sections 231, 221, 228 and 42 of the criminal No. 11, 2011 has been established against Aweniya.

 Lateef Akinpelu (right) NURTW Idi-Oro branch chairman set free. With him is Muritala Aweniya to face murder charge

The DPP legal advice signed and released by Mr. M.T. Adewoye, the Chief State Counsel in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in form CR No. 1580/2015 dated 5 October, 2015 stated that Muritala Aweniya has a case to answer in the alleged murder case because he made a confessional statement wehre he admitted and stated the various roles he played in the alleged murder of the deceased persons.
Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos led by Inspector Oluwemimo Banjoko had arrested Lateef Akinpelu, Muritala Aweniya and others following a petition to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, FSARS DCP Bonniface Onyeabo by the families of the deceased.
After investigation, Lateef Akinpelu, Muritala Aweniya were arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on a ten-count charge of felony to wit, murder, attempted murder and management of an unlawful society called Buccaneer Confraternity and Odua People’s Congress (OPC) and they were ordered remanded in prison custody for DPP’s advice.
The police prosecutor, Supol C.N. Odii had informed the court in charge No. I/19/2015 that the accused persons committed the offence on 10, 21, February and 9 April, 2015 at Owoseni Ishola Street, Ilasamaja, Ajao Estate, Oshodi and at Agboro Street, Lagos.
Odili told the court that Muritala Aweniya shot and killed Oluwaseun Babalola and shot his wife Mary on the leg.
He said Aweniya also unlawfully killed Olayemi Mathew Eniola with hammer while Lateef Akinpelu killed Olasupo Abass.
But the DPP legal advice released in respect of the alleged murder case declared that Lateef Akinpelu has no case to answer while Muritala Aweniya should be prosecuted at a Higher Court for the alleged murder of the victims.