Group stages protest, calls for re-arrest of murder suspect

A civil rights group, Concerned Human Rights (CHR) has staged a protest in Agege, Lagos even as it called for the re-arrest of a murder suspect; Aiyenogun Babatunde whom the group alleged had been walking the streets of Lagos freely. Babatunde, also known as Holy Michael, was accused of killing one Ademola Yusuf in June […]

A civil rights group, Concerned Human Rights (CHR) has staged a protest in Agege, Lagos even as it called for the re-arrest of a murder suspect; Aiyenogun Babatunde whom the group alleged had been walking the streets of Lagos freely.
Babatunde, also known as Holy Michael, was accused of killing one Ademola Yusuf in June 2014 over what was described as “clash of interests.”
At the protest, CHR’s Coordinator, Declan Ihekaire, accused the police of allegedly not enforcing the bench warrant reportedly issued against Babatunde on October 13, 2015 by Justice Adedayo Akintoye of the Lagos State High Court.
According to Ihekaire, Babatunde was supposed to be standing trial having been so charged after investigations by the Lagos State Criminal and Investigation Department, Panti, into the death of Yusuf.
“The murder of Yusuf, who was stabbed to death on June 4, 2014 during a clash of interests at the Boundary area of Ajegunle in Ajeromi Local Government Area of Lagos State, was linked to Babatunde who was the Chairman of the Lagos Tricycles Owners and Drivers Association (TODA).
 “After Babatunde’s arrest and release by the Panti police station, the murder suspect has not been produced to appear before the court. Ever since the bench warrant was issued, the suspect has refused to appear in court but only engaged the services of a lawyer, who only came to court to give ‘excuses’ why his client was not available,” Ihekaire said.
The group, therefore, called on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, to order an investigation into how Babatunde was released from police custody, determine who released him and the grounds under which his release was perfected, adding that the suspect should be re-arrested immediately to face prosecution.