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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The scheduled arraignment of an alleged notorious gang leader and hired assassin, Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, alongside two others, was on Wednesday stalled at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.
Akinwande, aged 44, is being tried alongside Qudus Egbere and Sola Edun on a five-count charge bordering on murder, conspiracy, and membership of an unlawful society before Justice Oyindamola Ogala.
When the matter came up for hearing, the judge noted that it was the first appearance of Akinwande in court, explaining that his repeated absence had delayed the arraignment on two previous occasions. Justice Ogala also recalled that the court had earlier been informed that the defendant’s whereabouts were unknown.
During the proceedings, it was observed that the third defendant’s name was wrongly spelt as Wasiu Oluye-Oso on the charge sheet. Upon inquiry, Akinwande confirmed that his correct name is Wasiu Akinwande, and that his alias is Olori Eso.
When the court asked for the day’s business, prosecuting counsel O. Azeez announced that the State was ready to proceed with the arraignment. However, counsel to Olori Eso, M. Okandeji, requested an adjournment, stating that he had not yet been served with the charge sheet and was appearing in the case for the first time.
Although the prosecutor offered him an extra copy of the charge sheet in open court, counsel to the first defendant, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable the prosecution to correct the spelling error on the charge sheet.
Justice Ogala agreed with the request and adjourned the arraignment, directing that necessary corrections be made before the next sitting.
The judge also permitted the second defendant, Sola Edun, who is already on bail, to return home after his mother who stood as surety and his counsel, I. C. Val, undertook that he would appear at the next hearing.
The other defendants were ordered to be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Service, Kirikiri, pending their next court appearance. The matter was adjourned to November 10 at 12 noon for further hearing.
According to the charge, Egbere, Akinwande, and others still at large allegedly murdered Bolanle Yusuf and Yusuf Ramadan on July 31, 2024, at about 11 a.m. on Mashalasi Street, Mushin, Lagos State.
Their alleged offences contravene Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, which deals with murder, and Section 233, which covers conspiracy to commit a felony.
Additionally, Egbere and Edun are accused of belonging to an unlawful society, contrary to Section 2(3)(a) of the Unlawful Societies and Cultism (Prohibition) Law of Lagos State, 2021.