Ayodele Olalere
The Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN) has declined a plea bargain arrangement request for murder suspects who are currently facing trial before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of an Ikeja High Court.
The five murder suspects, namely: Atunrase Sodiq Omolabi ‘M’ 28 years, Shittu Michael Olawale ‘M’ 28 years, Olaide Opeifa ‘M’ 40′ years, Olanrewaju Adebiyi aka Maja ‘M’ 35 years and Jamiu Omosanya aka Orobo, are being prosecuted by the Lagos State Government for the alleged murder of
one Ifeanyi Godfrey Etunmuse, a staff of Western Funeral Home, Ijede Ikorodu,
Ifeanyi was allegedly murdered by the suspects on April 16, 2021, during the build-up to the local government election in Lagos, in which Oluwatosin Onamade, the owner of the Western Funeral Home, contested for the post of the Chairman of Ijede Local Council Development Area.
This murder led to the arrest of the suspects who were charged on seven count charge of murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, willful damage to property, unlawful society (cultism), breach of peace and conspiracy to commit felony.
However, during one of the trial proceedings in January 2025, the prosecution lawyer, Michael Adewoye told the judge that he received an application for plea bargain from counsel to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th defendant, adding that the application had already been approved by the Lagos Attorney-General.
The petitioner, Onamade however told the judge that a petition had already been written to Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as well as the Office of the Chief of State informing them of the move by the Attorney-General to grant plea bargain to the suspects and his disapproval of it.
A new twist to the matter came up at the resumed hearing of the matter on February 18 when Adewoye told the court that following a petition by the complainant to the governor, the Attorney-General has declined the earlier plea bargain arrangement and ordered the continuation of trial of the suspects.
The matter was subsequently adjourned for the continuation of trial and examination of one of the prosecutor’s witnesses.