Inspector Usang Otu, a police prosecution witness in the current trial of three accused members of the cult group “IBILE” for the purported murder of Owolabi Ajibola, described his investigative process to the Lagos State High Court on Monday while it was gathered in Tafawa Balewa Square.
Otu claimed that it was during the course of the investigation that he learned that the man who had come to report the murder and conspiracy was the deceased’s father, Baale Idowu.
The defendants, Jimoh Idris, Babatunde Gbenga, and Jemilu Adamu, are accused of killing the deceased. They are said to be members of an illegal social organization known as “IBILE.”
The Lagos State Government has preferred two charges against them, including conspiracy, illegal society, and murder.
Monday’s trial began with the police witness leading the state prosecutor, E. O. Anyabisi, in chief evidence. During the investigation, the deceased man’s father made it apparent in his statement that the first defendant and his group were members of a society known as “IBILE,” the witness told the court.
He added that the deceased’s father said that on April 22, 2018, while the deceased was returning from work, he got into an argument with the gang that turned physical. During the altercation, they pursued, subdued, and stabbed the deceased in the chest.
Otu, who claimed to have been a member of the Rapid Response Squad at the Tolu Divisional Police Headquarters in Olodi Apapa, Lagos, in 2018 when the incident took place, said he arrested the first defendant after the deceased’s father recognized him as a potential suspect in the conspiracy and murder case.
“Ibile Boys” is the name of the group that the first defendant admitted to being a member of when being questioned by Chief Superintendent of Police Uduak, the Divisional Police Officer, and myself in front of the complainant, the witness stated.
“The first defendant stated that on the day of the incident, he and his group, numbering 23, were returning from a bar named Rita’s joint when they got into a fight with the deceased. One of the group members, Alome, pulled out a knife, and Adejo took it and stabbed the victim in the chest.
“He claimed that after leaving him there, they fled, but by the time the deceased was brought to the hospital, it was too late and he had passed away.
“On April 23, 2018, I went to the hospital and saw the deceased’s lifeless body lying on the floor; we took pictures of him.” The family of the deceased disagreed that the body ought to be removed for an autopsy.
He was laid to rest in accordance with Muslim law. The defendants and the case file were moved to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, due to the nature of the case, according to Otu.
Amidst a cross-examination led by the legal representatives of the first and third accused, Lekan Egberungbe, and the second defendant, Mary Jibueze, the witness stated that he was absent from the station when the father of the dead arrived to file a report.
Furthermore, he denied having apprehended the second and third accused.
Judge Adesanya did, however, postpone the case to November 1 and 2, 2023, in order to continue the trial.
Olayemi Shofolu, the state prosecutor, informed the court that the defendants had committed the offenses on April 22, 2018.
He said that the three killed Ajibola illegally.
According to Shofolu’s testimony in court, the event happened at the Odus Bus Stop at Kirikiri Road in Olodi Apapa.
The prosecution added that it was discovered the accused were members of an illegal society and the fraternity “IBILE.”
The accused, however, entered a not guilty plea to the allegations made against them.
As a result, Judge Adesanya postponed the trial until October 30, 2023.