A 38-year-old youth leader of Ajiran Community, hammed Akanbi porpularly known as “Hammed Ajiran” was on Friday arraigned before an Ogba Magistrates’ Court over the alleged murder of Prince Ademola Akinloye and one Sherrif Salami in the Eti-Osa area of Lagos State.
Akanbi was arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on murder.
The prosecution alleged that Prince Akinloye, son of the Ojomu of Ajiran Land, was killed on Aug. 26, 2024, along Chevron Drive, while Salami was allegedly murdered on April 18, 2023, both in Eti-Osa area of the state.
Police investigations reportedly 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, 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.
