Killers of seven DSS operatives learn fate
Killers of seven DSS operatives learn fate
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court has reserved November 14, 2023, to pronounce sentence on two pipeline vandals, Clement Ododomu and Tiwei Monday, who murdered seven operatives of the Department of State Services in the Ishawo Creek of Ikorodu area on September 14, 2015.
The judge found the two guilty but deferred the sentencing following their allocutus or plea for leniency.
Justice Oshodi found Ododomu guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, possession of firearms and felony. The second defendant, Monday, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and felony.
In the charges filed against the convicts, the prosecution had told the court that they ambushed and killed DSS operatives who responded to a distress call to rescue the kidnapped wife of one Mr Nwosu of the Sun Newspaper.
In the 10 counts filed against them, the prosecution said the convicts acted contrary to sections 223 and 298 (3) of the Criminal Law, of Lagos State 2015.
Though they pleaded not guilty to the charges, Justice Oshodi, in his judgment on Wednesday, said the state proved the offences against them beyond a reasonable doubt.
The judge described it as a ruse, the claim by the convicts that they were in Lagos for the funeral service of their grandmother.
He consequently pronounced them guilty on counts 1, 5, 7, 9 and 10 which bordered on conspiracy to commit murder, murder, possession of firearms and felony.
However, the judge pronounced that: “Upon the proper evaluation of the evidence before the court, the convicts are discharged and acquitted on counts 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 because the prosecutor was unable to prove the allegations against them.”
The defence counsel, Mr Olusegun Akande, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing his clients.
In his response, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins, urged the court to convict them as prescribed by the section under which they were charged.
Justice Oshodi adjourned till November 14 for sentencing.
