Court Remands Four Police Officers Over Owode Market Killings

An Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Tuesday remanded four police officers accused of shooting and killing traders at the Owode Onirin International Spare Parts Market.

The defendants Manu Bala, Jibrin Samaila, Ibrahim Garuba and Ibrahim Kashimu  were ordered to be held at the Kirikiri Custodial Centre pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

The officers are facing a seven-count charge bordering on conspiracy and murder.

Police prosecutor, Mr O.W. Ologun, told the court that the alleged offences were committed on Aug. 27, 2025, at about 9 a.m. at Owode Onirin Market.

Ologun alleged that the defendants, alongside others still at large, conspired and opened fire on traders with AK-47 rifles, killing several people.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Commissioner of Police, six victims were identified in the incident. They include Bamidele Dare Mufutau, Adebayo Adewale Mathew, Adeoye Taiye, Abraham Idowu Temilola, Akinboye Oluwaseyi Olamilekan and Akeem Aderemi Adeoye.

The prosecutor said the alleged offences contravened Sections 223 and 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

He explained that the suspects were brought before the court to obtain a remand order while awaiting legal advice from the DPP to determine whether a prima facie case had been established against them.

However, counsel to the defendants, Mr Azuri Ejiofor, urged the court to reject the remand application, arguing that the officers had already spent more than five months in detention.

Despite the objection, the court ordered that the defendants be remanded in custody pending further legal advice on the case.