A 38-year-old Ajiran community youth leader, Hammed Akanbi, popularly called ‘Hammed Ajiran’, appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over alleged murder charges.
Akanbi was arraigned on Friday on a six-count charge bordering on the alleged murders of Prince Ademola Akinloye and Sherrif Salami.
Prosecutors alleged that Akinloye, son of the Ojomu of Ajiran community, was killed along Chevron Drive, Eti-Osa, on Aug. 26, 2024.
Salami was allegedly murdered on April 18, 2023, in the same Eti-Osa area of Lagos State.
The prosecution alleged that the killings were carried out by a gang armed with locally-made pistols, axes and machetes.
Police investigations led to the arrest of two suspects, Safiu Fatai, also known as “Fabo,” and Yusuf Ismaila, alias “Bariga,” who allegedly confessed that Akanbi paid them N2 million for the 2023 assassination.
The Lagos State Police Command had declared Akanbi wanted on Feb. 19 over his alleged involvement in the killings.
He was, however, apprehended by INTERPOL operatives in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on April 15 after months of tracking and was subsequently handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Mr Olohundare Jimoh.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, thereafter directed that the case be transferred to the Lagos State Police Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Tijani.
In compliance with the directive, the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin, for further investigation and prosecution.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Magistrate Lateef Owolabi ordered that Akanbi be remanded in police custody for 10 days and directed that the case file be duplicated and forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
The case was adjourned until June 4 for DPP advice.
