TWO pipeline vandals have been convicted for the 2015 murder of seven operatives of the Department of State Security – DSS, in Ikorodu, Lagos.
Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja convicted the first defendant and second defendants Clement Ododomu and Tiwei Monday.
Justice Oshodi ruled that the prosecution – Lagos State Government – proved the offence of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and possession of firearms with intent to commit a felony against Ododomu while the second defendant, Monday was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and failure to report a felony.
The offences are contrary to Sections 223 and 298 (3) of the Criminal Law, Cap. C. A Vol. 3, laws of Lagos State 2015.
An investigation officer with the DSS, Saheed Adetunji told the court that seven out of a nine-man rescue team that was despatched to a crime scene
were ambushed by the vandals in the Ishawo area and taken captive.
“The first defendant said that they took the seven DSS personnel to their hideout, into the Ishawo Creeks, called Barracks,” Adetunji said.
The officer also identified the 2nd defendant, Monday, who confessed that he was a part of the group of vandals who used teargas and pepper spray on the DSS personnel.
“When they got to their Barracks, the first defendant said he personally shot two of the DSS personnel with a pump-action rifle, while one Agbala shot the remaining five with an AK-47.
“The dead bodies were buried in three separate graves. The first defendant said that the graves were dug by some Ijaw boys and three slim operatives were packed in one. And the bigger ones were put in twos into the other graves,” he stated.
The court, however, adjourned the sentencing of the convicts to Nov. 14th.