A suspected motorcycle thief named Moses Uche, 24, was beaten to death by an angry mob in the Ajegunle area of Lagos State.
The police operatives in the area had arrested a security guard, Suleiman Sanni, 30, in connection with the case of jungle justice.
Sanni, and indigene of Katsina State was among a three-man security team guarding a house on Otubo Street, Irawo, Ajegunle, and according to Punch, he had spotted the suspect sneaking into the neighbourhood and trying to steal a motorcycle around 2am of the fateful day.
The security guard reportedly woke up the residents who immediately formed a mob and attacked the deceased with planks and other weapons before they used a wheelbarrow to convey him to the Ajegunle Police Division around 7am on Thursday, October 8, 2015 where he died two days later.
Defending himself, Sanni who denied having a hand in the attack said: Sanni said, “I was guarding a house with two others. Around 2am on October 8, I sighted the man entering a house and trying to steal a motorcycle.
“When I challenged him, he said the motorcycle belonged to him. I alerted the residents of the house and they started hitting him.
“I was arrested and taken to the station. Before I knew it, I was taken to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.”
Sanni said he rescued the suspect and reported the case at the Ajegunle Police Station, adding that he handed over the suspect to the police.
It was learnt that the police arrested four of the suspects, who were later released on bail whle Sanni was arraigned on one count of murder before an Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ court.
The charge read, “That you, Suleiman Sanni, and others at large, on October 8, 2015, at about 2am on Otubo Street, Irawo, Ajegunle, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Moses Uche, aged 24 years, by beating him to death with planks.”
The Police Prosecutor, Woman Corporal Iyobosa Onaiwu, said the offence was punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.
Sanni was remanded in prion custody by the Magistrate, Miss M.O. Ope-Agbeafter hi plea was rejected by the court.
The case was adjourned until Tuesday, January 19, 2016 for further mention.
