The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has recommended the prosecution of a National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) chieftain, Azeez Lawal (a.k.a. Kunle Poly), in connection with an alleged murder case.
Lawal (48) is to be tried at the Lagos State High Court for alleged accessory after the fact to murder. His co-defendant Adekanbi Wahab (38) will face trial for membership in an unlawful society.
A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos stated this on Monday, explaining that the DPP’s advice showed that a prima facie case had been established against the duo.
Chief Magistrate Linda Balogun added that the DPP advised that three other defendants, whose names were mentioned in the advice, though they were charged separately from the two defendants, should be discharged.
She transferred the case to the High Court registry.
Kunle Poly – the NURTW’s Lagos Island Branch B Chairman – and Wahab were on 27th January remanded for 30 days on a temporary charge of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and membership of an unlawful society.
The Magistrate on the 28th of February renewed the order following an application by a prosecutor of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Mr Morufu Animashaun.
At the commencement of Monday’s proceedings, a lawyer from the DPP, Mrs O. R. Saliu, told the court that the legal advice was ready and in the court’s file.
Following an application by counsel to both defendants, Mr Adeshina Ogunlana, who told the court that the defendants had been in custody for 78 days, the Chief Magistrate granted each defendant bail in the sum of 1 Million.
Magistrate Balogun also ordered that the defendants should produce two sureties each as part of their bail condition.
She held that one of the sureties must be a traditional ruler or religious leader, adding that both sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.
She directed that a self-employed person is not qualified as a surety, adding that any civil servant wishing to stand as the surety must get a letter from the Head of Service of Lagos State.
She adjourned the case till 11th May for a report on its filing at the High Court registry.