Four policemen docked over alleged manslaughter in Lagos

Four police officers, Sergeant Sunday Ogunyemi, 40; Inspector Surulere Irede, 46; Corporals Hezekiah Babatunde and Onifade Abimbola, 38, were yesterday, re-arraigned before a Lagos State high Court sitting in Ikeja over unlawful killing of one Olayode Ayoade.

The defendants were re-arraigned before Justice Sedote Ogunsanya on a count charge of manslaughter slammed against them by the State of Lagos.

It was alleged that one of the defendants, Onifade Abimbola, 38, is now at large.

The suspects, who pleaded not guilty to the amended charge when it was read to them, were said to have committed the offence on July 24, 2014 at 12a.m., at Elere Police Station, Agege, Lagos.

According to counsel to the first and second defendants, Sergeant Ogunyemi and Inspector Irede, B. T. Akiredo, his clients were first arraigned before an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court on November 6, 2015.

He further told the court that they have since filed bail applications dated May 4.

He added: “The suspects have been on bail and the charge is still before the Magistrate’s Court.

“We have to inform the magistrate that the matter has been properly filed before the high court, so as to strike out the charge and we have served the application on to the prosecution.”

In its response, the prosecution admitted being served and notified the court that a response will be filed in the next two weeks.

The judge, after listening to both counsel, adjourned the matter till November 16 for hearing of the bail application.