Scores of protesters and family members of the mother of four, Idongesit Sunday, who was allegedly felled by a trigger-happy police corporal, on Monday besieged the Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
The protesters, led by Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of Women Arise, a human rights group, demanded justice in the matter.
Various placards with inscriptions, “Injustice to one is injustice to all”, “We demand responsible policing of Nigeria”, “Justice must be served on killer cop, Museliu Aremu” among others were displayed at the court premises.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, counsel to the accused, Mr Lekan Alabi, urged the court to grant the accused bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Folasade Botoku, however, rejected the appeal of the defence counsel.
Botoku noted that the court lacked the jurisdiction to prosecute such a case and that the case was still premature because it had not exceeded 60 days.
“The court is not aware that there is a difference between the accused, a public servant and an ordinary citizen, hence bail is hereby refused.”
The magistrate ordered that the accused should be remanded again, this time at the Ikoyi Prisons, pending advice from the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The case was adjourned till November 25.
It would be recalled that 28-year-old Corporal Museliu Aremu, had allegedly shot dead Idongesit on September 16 while returning from church with her husband and child in a tricycle.
At his arraignment on September 18, the court had ordered that the accused, who was charged with a two-count charge of murder and causing grievous harm, should be remanded in police custody at Panti, Yaba, pending legal advice from the DPP.
The plea of the accused attached to the Isheri-Oshun Police Station, was not taken.
Mr G.O. Osuyi of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti, and Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, had earlier told the court that the offences were committed on September 16, about 8 p.m. at Isheri- Oshun, Ijegun, a Lagos surburb.
He said the accused shot dead one Comfort Idongesit and caused grievous harm to one Godwin Sunday, the deceased husband.
The accused opened fire on the tricycle shattering the head of the mother of four and causing serious injury to the husband’s jaw.
Osuyi noted that the offences contravened Sections 221 and 243 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
