On Wednesday, Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, Lagos, convicted two members of a group of pipeline vandals for the murder of seven Department of State Service (DSS) personnel.
Clement Ododomu and Tiwei Monday were found guilty of a 10-count charge of murder and possession of firearms in violation of Sections 223 and 298 (3) of the Criminal Law, Cap. C. A Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Ododomu (first defendant) was found guilty of conspiracy to murder, murder, and possession of guns with intent to commit a felony by the court.
While Monday (the second defendant) was convicted of murder plot and failing to report a felony.
The Lagos State government accused the couple of murdering and burying DSS officers Uzor Nwafor, Kayode Oladimeji, Luke Akande, Adebayo Adeniyi, Benjamin Mafo, and Simeon Owolabi in 2015.
During the trial, Saheed Adetunji, an investigative officer with the DSS, testified that seven of a team of nine personnel dispatched on a hostage rescue mission were attacked by vandals and taken captive at Abule Oba.
He stated,
“The first defendant said they took the seven DSS personnel to their hideout, into the Creeks, called Barracks. He also identified the 2nd defendant, Monday, as a member who used the teargas on the personnel. He also recalled one Godwin Oweli and Prince Sunday as other perpetrators.
“He said that when they got to their Barracks, he shot two of the DSS personnel with a pump-action rifle, while one Agbala shot the remaining five with an AK47.
“The dead bodies were buried in three separate graves. The first defendant said that some Ijaw boys dug the graves, and three slim operatives were packed in one. And the bigger ones were put in twos into the other graves.”
In his judgment, Justice Oshodi held that the prosecution could prove part of the charge against the two convicts beyond all reasonable doubt.
The judge also rejected their alibi, describing it as an afterthought and not credible.
He further held that their attempts to deny their confessional statements were not convincing and that evidence before the court confirmed that the extra-judicial statements were made voluntarily.
The court has, however, adjourned its sentencing till November 14, 2023.