Oyo Ex-PMS Chairman, Auxiliary, Remanded In Prison

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday ordered the remand of a former Chairman of the Oyo State Park Management System, Mukaila Lamidi, in Agodi correctional facility over alleged murder and possession of firearms.

Lamidi, popularly known as Auxiliary, was represented by his counsel, Tope Olayinka.

The Chief Magistrate, Olabisi Ogunkanmi, ordered his remand for want of jurisdiction.

Ogunkanmi said the remand was pending issuance of legal advice from the Oyo State Director of Public Prosecution.

She, thereafter, adjourned the matter till July 11 for mention.

The defendant was arraigned on various count charges bordering on conspiracy, causing death, piling firearms and ammunition, stealing, dangerous driving and attacking, and dispossession of valuables.

Funke Fawole, Officer-in-Charge, Legal Department of the Oyo State Police Command, appeared for the prosecution.

Fawole, a Chief Superintendent of Police, had earlier told the court that Lamidi and others, now at large, conspired to commit the offences.

She said: “On June 16, 2021, at about 3:30pm, Lamidi and others, now at large, caused the death of one Azeez Rahman Abiodun, 36, unlawfully by stabbing him with a knife in the chest

“On June 16, 2021, the defendant and others conspired and stole assorted phones, valued at N150 million, property of Azeez Hammed Adebayo.”

Fawole said that the offence was committed at about 3:30pm at Baba-Onilu Shopping Complex, Iwo Road area, Ibadan.

In another charge sheet, Lamidi was said to have on May 29, 2023 at about 2pm at Governor Seyi Makinde’s private residence in Ikolaba, Ibadan, conspired with others to attack people while armed with guns and cutlasses and dispossessed them of their valuables.

Lamidi was also said to have armed himself with a gun and unlawfully attempted to kill or cause the death of one Ishola Fatai by using machetes to rip his belly open and cut other parts of his body.

In another charge, the former PMS chairman reportedly on September 23, 2023 at about 4:30pm at Agodi GRA area, Ibadan, drove a Pontiac Vibe car, with registration number: LUY 830 MK, recklessly.

He was said to have thus caused the death of a 65-year-old woman, Wonuola Ayinde.

Fawole said that the offences were contrary to Sections 383 and 316 and punishable under Section 319(1), 390(9), 324, 320 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

According to her, the offences also contravene Sections 1(2) and 6(b) of Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

While Lamidi pleaded not guilty to the charges, his defence counsel, however, prayed the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.

The Chief Magistrate, Olabisi Ogunkanmi, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.

Ogunkanmi said one of the sureties must be a landed property owner within the court’s jurisdiction and with a certificate of occupancy, while the other must have a three years tax clearance certificate.