A Lagos State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ebute-Meta
has ordered the remand of 36-year-old Shakiru Bello in custody for allegedly
killing his wife, Sherifat, in the Somolu area of the state.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O.I. Adelaja, ordered that the
Ibadan, Oyo State indigene, be remanded pending the release of legal advice
from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
PUNCH Metro had reported that Shakiru and Sherifat, who were
married for more than nine years, separated sometime in July 2016.
He was reported to have secretly reconciled with her and was
constantly communicating with her on the telephone.
Penultimate Monday, the suspect allegedly invited Sherifat
to a location to collect money for the upkeep of their three children.
She, however, did not return home alive.
The police arrested the suspect in Ibadan, where he
reportedly fled to after the incident.
He allegedly led detectives from the Ijora Badia Police
Division to two uncompleted buildings in the Yaba and Somolu areas of Lagos,
where the remains of late Sherifat were recovered in different sacks.
The matter was transferred to the Area B Police Command,
from where it was referred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence
Department, Yaba.
Hundreds of residents and family members of the victims
besieged the court premises for the proceeding.
Operatives of the Homicide Section, SCIID, led by the
Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Chris Akpanomo, told the court that
although no weapon was recovered from the suspect, he made confessional
statements to the police.
He added that there was also fingerprint evidence against
Shakiru.
The police arraigned him on two counts of murder.
The charges read, “That you, Shakiru Bello, on February 17,
2017, at about 2pm, on Olaleye Street, Somolu, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial
District, did kill one Sherifat Bello, aged 37, by hacking her with a cutlass,
thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 222 and punishable under
Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.
“That you did, without lawful justification or excuse,
dismember the remains of one Sherifat Atanda Bello, thereby committing an offence punishable
under Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.”
The defendant’s plea was not taken, just as he did not have
any legal representation.
The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, prayed
the court to remand Shakiru, citing Section 264 of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
“We want the defendant remanded pending the conclusion of
investigation into the case and the release of legal advice from the DPP,” he
added.
The chief magistrate upheld the application and ruled that
the case be adjourned till March 17, 2017.
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