Police Arraign Muslim Cleric, Three Others Over Alleged Manslaughter, Theft

By Babatunde Solanke

An Islamic cleric, Hafeez Imoleayo, and three others were on Monday, August 14, 2023 arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos presided over by Kafayat Tella over alleged manslaughter and obtaining of N127. 6m.

Imoleayo, 43, alongside Mushirafat Salaam, 59; Saidi Ajayi,42; and Uthman Rahmon 27, is facing 11 counts of conspiracy, compelling action by intimidation, unlawful possession of charm, stealing, threatening to kill, obtaining money by false pretence, involuntary manslaughter, perjury and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace preferred against them by the police.

The prosecutor, Inspector Olatunde Kehinde, told the court that the incident happened between 2010 and 2022, at No. 3, Olabode Agboola Close, off Erunwen Junction Ikorodu area of Lagos.

Kehinde told the court that the first and second defendants and others now at large conspired unlawfully with gross negligence and disregard for human life and failed to protect one Moridiyyat Okeowo, which resulted in her untimely death.

He said the first defendant obtained the sum of N105.5m from one Oluwasegun Animashaun with the pretence of helping him buy four BRT buses and 10 acres of land at Ikorodu.

The prosecutor further told the court that the second defendant Salaam at the same time obtained $9,000 from the complainant Animashaun with the pretence of helping him to buy land at Ikorodu.

Kehinde also alleged that the third defendant Ajayi obtained a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer SUV valued at N5.6m from Animashaun with the pretence of helping him to sell it.

The prosecutor told Magistrate Tella that the fourth defendant, Rahmon, obtained $11, 573 from the complainant with the pretence of helping him to buy land at Ikorodu, a representation he knew was false.

According to the prosecutor, the total amount involved was N127.6m, property of the complainant, Animashaun.

Kehinde said the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 224 (1) (2), 314, 287, 86, 237, 133 (b), and 168 (1) (d) (f) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Consequently, Magistrate Tella admitted them to bail in the sum of N4m each with two sureties each in like sum.

The case was adjourned till October 10, 2023, for mention.