Police arraign killer of activist, mother-in-law

The police have arraigned a 24-year-old man, Seun Oladapo, for allegedly killing Lagos-based human rights activist and popular social commentator, Kunle Fadipe, and his mother-in-law, Mrs Ceceila Owolabi.

While Fadipe died on the day of the attack, his 74-year-old mother-in-law died a few days after from the injuries she sustained during the attack.

Fadipe and his family had been attacked in their home in Harmony Estate, College Road in Ifako Ijaiye, Lagos, on July 3, 2014.

On the day of the incident, the slain lawyer had asked his son to turn on the generator after a power outage in the area.

The suspect, who emerged from the dark, armed with a knife, reportedly ordered Fadipe’s son to lead him to his father.

After making a series of demands from the deceased, he was said to have stabbed him in the neck and on his back.

He was also said to have injured the deceased’s son and mother-in-law who he stabbed in the breast.

The suspect allegedly attacked other family members before he was overpowered by security men in the community.

Oladapo was arraigned before a Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court on seven counts of murder and attempted murder.

The police told the court that investigations revealed that the suspect also robbed the Fadipe family of an envelope containing a large sum of money.

The charges read in part, “That you, Seun Oladapo, on or about July 4, 2014 at about 1am, on Harmony Drive, Harmony Estate, Iju, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, whilst armed with a knife and other weapons did rob Barrister Kunle Fadipe (deceased) and his household of a large sum of money contained in an envelope which value is yet to be ascertained.

“That you unlawfully killed Kunle Fadipe, by stabbing him with a knife all over his body.

“That you did unlawfully kill Ceceilia Owolabi, by stabbing her with a knife.”

The police prosecutor, Mr. Agwu Agwu, from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, said the offences were punishable under sections 295, 228 and 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant’s plea was not taken.

The prosecutor then applied for his remand in prison pending a legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

“Our application is brought pursuant to Section 264(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011. The remand will help the police duplicate the case file and obtain legal advice from the DPP,” he said.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Aje Afunwa, agreed to remand the defendant in prison pending legal advice.

The matter was adjourned till November 28, 2014 for legal advice.