Man to Die by Hanging Over Seven DSS Officers' Killing in Lagos

Two people have been found guilty by an Ikeja high court in connection with the deaths of seven Department of State Services (DSS) personnel.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convicts, who are vandals, were arraigned for killing seven officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the Ikorodu area of the state.
Justice Oshodi said that Martins had told the court that the offences by the defendants were grave and that the court should apply the maximum sentences available

The horrifying incident unfolded in the Ikorodu area, where a group of vandals engaged in criminal activities clashed with DSS officers. The confrontation escalated to a level of brutality that shocked the nation, resulting in the tragic loss of seven dedicated officers who were on duty to protect and serve the community. The incident not only highlighted the dangers faced by law enforcement officers but also underscored the need for swift and decisive justice.

The legal proceedings that led to the conviction and subsequent death sentence were meticulously conducted. The prosecution presented a compelling case, establishing the culpability of the accused in the killing of the DSS officers. The court, under the guidance of Justice Oshodi, carefully considered the evidence presented, ensuring a fair trial for both the prosecution and the defense. The severity of the crimes committed demanded a thorough examination of the facts to ensure that justice was not only done but also seen to be done.

Justice Oshodi’s assertion that the offences committed by the defendants were grave underscores the magnitude of the crime. The deliberate and violent attack on law enforcement officers not only resulted in the loss of lives but also posed a direct threat to the security and stability of the state. The court’s recognition of the severity of the offences played a pivotal role in the sentencing, as it opted for the maximum penalty available under the law.

The presiding judge, Hakeem Oshodi, sentenced Tiwei Monday to 16 years in prison and Clement Ododomu to death by hanging.

It was stated that the crimes were perpetrated by the convicted individuals on September 14, 2015, in Ishawo Creek, Ikorodu, Lagos.

They were charged with ten counts of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and unlawful firearm possession, all in violation of Lagos State’s 2015 criminal code sections 223 and 298 (3).

According to the Lagos state government, on September 14, 2015, an editor of the Sun newspaper  called the DSS in concern regarding his wife’s kidnapping at their home.

It was said that the state command of the DSS dispatched a nine-man team to carry out surveillance to ascertain the location of the kidnappers who were negotiating for a ransom.

In the evening of that day, Martins Ajayi, one of the officers on the team, sent a distress text message to the command headquarters saying that the men had been ambushed by vandals and their weapons had been seized.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the crime while submitting that they were in Lagos to attend the burial of their grandmother.

But in the judgment, Oshodi held that the defense failed to provide essential witnesses to corroborate the claim.

The judge also noted that the defendants did not show remorse for their crimes.

“The court has considered the allocutus of the defense counsel, but the position of the law is binding to us all,” the judge said.

“As noted, the first defendant was convicted on counts one, five, seven, nine, and ten, while the second defendant was convicted on counts one and ten.”

He held that the prosecution was not able to prove that the second defendant was guilty of murder.

Oshodi said that evidence before the court showed that it was Agbala and the first defendant who killed the operatives.

He held that the prosecution was able to prove that the two defendants participated in the ambush of the operatives.

He discharged and acquitted the convicts on counts two, three, four, six and eight because the prosecution was unable to prove the allegations against them.

“The court has observed the demeanor of the defendants and came to the conclusion that they felt no remorse with regard to the allegations they were facing,” Oshodi said.

“They informed the court that they do not understand the English language, whereas in the recording, they both were conversing in English.

“The first and second defendants are hereby sentenced to imprisonment for 14 years for count 10, and the first and second defendants are hereby sentenced to imprisonment for two years for count 9.

“The first defendant is hereby sentenced to imprisonment for 20 years. The terms of imprisonment for both defendants will run concurrently.

“For count five and seven, for which the court has found the first defendant guilty, the sentence of the court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on your soul.”