Court remands four policemen over alleged killing of traders
A Lagos Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ebute Metta has remanded four police officers accused of shooting and killing traders at the popular Owode Onirin International Spare Parts Market in Kirikiri
A Lagos Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ebute Metta has remanded four police officers accused of shooting and killing traders at the popular Owode Onirin International Spare Parts Market in Kirikiri custodial centre of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCoS).
The suspects are Manu Bala (41), Jibrin Samaila (47), Ibrahim Garuba (29) and Ibrahim Kashimu (26).
Chief Magistrate Mrs. E. Kubeinjeordered the suspects to be remanded pending legal advice from the Lagos Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The officers are facing a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and murder.
Police prosecutor, O. W. Ologun, told the court that the accused persons allegedly conspired and carried out the killings on August 27, 2025 at about 9:00 a.m. at the Owode Onirin Market in Lagos.
According to the charge by the Commissioner of Police, the defendants and others still at large allegedly shot several traders to death using AK-47 rifles.
The victims listed in the charge include Bamidele Dare Mufutau, Adebayo Adewale Mathew, Adeoye Taiye, Abraham Idowu Temilola, Akinboye Oluwaseyi Olamilekan, and Akeem Aderemi Adeoye.
The prosecution stated that the alleged offences contravened Sections 223 and 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which prescribedpunishment for murder and conspiracy to commit felony.
Mr. Ologun informed the court that the suspects were brought before it to obtain a remand order pending the issuance of legal advice by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine whether there is a prima facie case against them.
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But defence counsel, Azuri Ejiofor pleaded that they should not be remanded on the ground that they have been detained for over five months.
Following the submissions by counsels, the Chief Magistrate granted the request of the prosecution and ordered that the four defendants be remanded at the Kirikiri Custodial Centre pending the DPP’s advice.
The matter was thereafter adjourned till April 15, 2026 for further mention.
Meanwhile, lawyer to the traders and the family of the victims, Mr Femi Falana, (SAN), said that “the arraignment of the police officers is a pointer to the fact that the Lagos state police command is ready and willing to do justice to the memory of the victims who were murdered in cold blood.”
According to him, the souls of the deceased traders are yearning for justice and it is believed that the court will do justice to the case the moment the case is brought to the court.
Falana said as they await the outcome of the DPP’s advice, it is believed that the deceased traders will not die in vain.
