Motorcyclist Arriagned Over Constable’s Murder

The Police in Lagos yesterday arraigned a 25-year-old commercial motorcyclist, Fatai Ayinde, over his alleged involvement in the murder of a police constable.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Paul Inedu, said the suspect, who was arraigned before the Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrate’s Court, faced a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder. Inedu told the court that the accused and others now at large, murdered one Mathias Akpur, a police constable attached to the Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA). He said the offence was committed on July 6, 2008 at about 8.30 p.m. at Anthony Village in Lagos.

He said that the deceased and another policeman, whose name was not mentioned, were on a motorcycle returning from a town’s meeting which held at the Pedro Police Barracks, Shomolu.

Inedu said the accused, who was also on his bike, but was driving against traffic, caused an accident where the two policemen fell off their motorcycle.

The prosecutor maintained that the policemen challenged the accused who apologised and went away.
Inedu claimed that the accused went to mobilise some miscreants and attacked the two policemen, alleging that the policemen were trying to rob him of his bike.

He said the touts pounced on them, even when they identified themselves as policemen but Constable Mathias could not survive the beating.

The prosecutor prayed the court to remand the accused in prison, while it sought the advice of the State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on the matter.