Alleged Ajiran Killings: Community Youth Leader Arraigned Over Murder of Prince Ojomu , One Other

Alleged Ajiran Killings: Community Youth Leader Arraigned Over Murder of Prince Ojomu, One Other

A 38-year-old community youth leader, Hammed Akanbi, popularly known as “Hammed Ajiran,” has been arraigned before an Ogba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over the alleged killings of Prince Ademola Akinloye and one Sheriff Salami in the Eti-Osa area of the state.

Akanbi was docked on Friday on a six-count charge bordering on murder.

According to the prosecution, Prince Akinloye, a son of the Ojomu of Ajiran Land, was allegedly killed on August 26, 2024, along Chevron Drive in Eti-Osa, while Salami was reportedly murdered on April 18, 2023, within the same axis.

Police investigations allegedly led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Safiu Fatai, also known as “Fabo,” and Yusuf Ismaila, alias “Bariga,” who were said to have confessed that Akanbi paid them N2 million to carry out the 2023 assassination.

The Lagos State Police Command had earlier declared Akanbi wanted on February 19 over his alleged involvement in the killings.

He was later apprehended by INTERPOL operatives in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on April 15 after months of surveillance and was subsequently handed over to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2 Command, Onikan, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh.

Following the arrest, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, reportedly directed that the matter be transferred to the Lagos State Police Command under the leadership of Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Tijani.

The case was thereafter transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and placed under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Dayo Akinbisehin, for further investigation and prosecution.

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Presiding 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 matter was adjourned until June 4 for further proceedings and DPP advice.