A Chief Magistrate Court in the Yaba area of Lagos has ordered the 30-day remand of a dismissed police sergeant, Samuel Phillips, pending the legal advice of the State’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Sergeant Samuel Philips, who has been dismissed from the police force following the conclusion of his orderly room trial, was brought before Chief Magistrate Adeola Adedayo on Friday on a one-count charge for the alleged murder of an 18-year old lady, Monsurat Ojuade. Monsurat was said to have been hit by a stray bullet on September 11 while the police were on criminal raid investigations in the Ijeshatedo area of Lagos. She died on her way to the hospital.
The one count charge said that Sergeant Samuel Philips at about 11.30 pm at 53, Mogaji Street Ijeshatedo, unlawfully released gunshots into the building which hit Monsurat on her two thighs and led to her death. At the brief proceedings, the magistrate granted the application made by the prosecutor for the remand of the defendant for thirty days, pending the advice of the Directorate of Public Prosecution.
This is because the magistrate court lacks the jurisdiction to hear a murder charge and the DPP is to recommend that the murder trial be conducted at the State High Court.
Further hearings were adjourned to October 25.
