A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s court has remanded the dismissed Police Sergeant, Samuel Philips in prison custody over the alleged murder of a teenager, Monsurat Ojuade at her home in the Ijeshatedo area of Lagos state on September 10.
The police arraigned 30-year-old Phillips before Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo today September 24 on a temporary one-count charge of murder preferred against him by the police. Adebayo ruled that the dismissed officer be held in custody pending legal advice on the case from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that Phillips shot dead the 18-year-old admission seeker, who reportedly scored 236 in the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations and was awaiting admission when she was killed.
Spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, disclosed in a statement earlier today that Phillips has been dismissed and would be arraigned in court.
Prosecution counsel Inspector Augustine Nwabuisi alleged that the defendant committed the offence on September 10, 2021. He said the incident occurred at about 11:30pm at No. 5, Mogaji Street, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos.
“Philips whilst in a criminal raid operation unlawfully released gunshot into the house/ dwelling of one Monsurat Ojuade, aged 18 years, hitting her two thighs, which led to her death” Nwabuisi said
According to him, the offense contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. Chief Magistrate Adedayo, in accordance with the procedure, did not take Phillips’ plea.
Rather, she ordered that he be remanded in prison custody pending legal advice from the (DPP.)
She adjourned the case till October 25.