Magistrate Mobolaji Tanimola of the Lagos State Magistrate Court in Ogba on Tuesday ordered the remand of 44-year-old Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Esho, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre over multiple murder allegations.
The magistrate directed that Akinwande be held for an initial period of 30 days, pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
The Nigeria Police Force filed an 11-count charge against the defendant, including conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, membership of a proscribed group, possession of a poisonous dagger, grievous bodily harm, threats to life, and unlawful possession of passports and other dangerous weapons.
Esho was arrested on June 20, 2025, at the Alagbado area of Lagos State, where he absconded.
According to the police prosecuting counsel, Nosa Uhumwangho, the defendant and others still at large allegedly committed the offences on various dates between December 9, 2010, and April 5, 2025, at different locations within Lagos State, including Mushin, Idi-Araba, Surulere, and Fadeyi.
Uhumwangho told the court that the defendant, while allegedly in unlawful possession of an AK-47 rifle, shot and killed one Yusuf Bolakale (30) and one Yusuf Ramadan (23) at No. 11 Mosalashi Street, Mushin, Lagos. He was said to have fled to the Alagbado area, where he was eventually apprehended.
The prosecutor further alleged that on December 9, 2010, at Tiamiyu Street, Fadeyi, the defendant shot and killed a 10-year-old girl, Aminat Lateef, while she was running an errand.
Similarly, on July 31, 2024, the defendant allegedly killed six other persons, identified as Anyila (surname unknown), Ojajo (surname unknown), and four others, during a violent clash between rival factions of an unlawful society at Idi-Araba.
Uhumwangho also told the court that the defendant unlawfully possessed a cache of arms, including a K2 assault rifle (AR 72739), two AK-47 rifles (breach numbers 0275 and 5688), two locally made single-barrelled pistols, 70 rounds of 5.56mm live ammunition, 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 57 live cartridges, three walkie-talkies, and a poisonous dagger.
He said the defendant allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for their possession.
In addition, Esho was accused of attempting to murder a 58-year-old woman, Awawu Ajalara, on February 17, 2011, by shooting both of her legs with an AK-47, resulting in permanent disability.
Uhumwangho further told the court that on April 5, 2025, the defendant allegedly invaded a residence at No. 4 Gbadamosi Close, Surulere, around 1:30 a.m., threatened and tied up one Mohammad Ali, and demanded the whereabouts of his employer, Sego.
The prosecutor told the court that the defendant had, between 2009 and 2025, unlawfully engaged in activities that caused terror in the Mushin community by openly brandishing firearms and other dangerous weapons.
It was further alleged that the defendant had between 2009 and 2022, unlawfully seized landed properties belonging to various victims, using threats and force.
Esho was also charged with unlawful possession of several stolen passports belonging to Nigerian and foreign nationals, including persons from the Republic of Guinea Bissau, Republic Da Guinee, and the Republic of Cameroon.
Uhumwangho alleged that Esho, on July 31, 2024, at No 11, Mosalashi Street, Mushin, Lagos, was found in possession of stolen passports, Ganiyu Faliat Blessing, a national of Nigeria, Alade Sikiru, a national of Nigeria, Pichama Betrran Mbeghe, a national of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, Jubisa Aruna Damaris, a national Republic of Guinea, Agbo Lucia Eta, national of Republic of Guinea, Yougouda Assiatou, a national of Republic of Guinea, Forchit Victory Muyang, a national Republic of Cameroon.
Others are Dr Mashood Aladipo Haroona, national of Nigeria, Marcel Nguty Muda,a national of Republic of Guinea, Ojo Odunayo Idowu, a national of Nigeria, and Akinwande Wasiu Olufemi, a Nigerian, Haroona Ladi . O.M, a Nigerian, Aristide Nyuyki, a national of Republic of Guinea.
According to the prosecution, the defendant was unable to account for how the documents came into his possession.
The offences committed contravene Sections 223, 233, and 329 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, Sections 27(1)(a)(b)(ii) of the Firearms Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as amended), and Sections 230(a), 245, 562(1)(a)(2), and 51(2) of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016.
However, the plea of the defendant was not taken.
Earlier, before the defendant was remanded, Uhumwangho told the court that he had an application for remand in line with Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015.
He urged the court to remand Esho at the police custody as they were still carrying out investigations.
Uhumwangho said, “We are not done with our investigation. There are 13 passports with valid visas that were found with the defendant.
“We have nine recovered AK-47 physically in court two pump action guns and two pistols. We urge the court to remand the defendant at the police custody”.
The prosecutor also stated that the defendant made statements in regards to the 13 passports with valid visas, and his gang members who are at large.
But the defence counsel Mr Adejare Kembi, objected to the remand of the suspect at the police custody.
He stated that since the arrest of the suspect he had not had access to his client.
“We are not opposing to the request for remand, but I have a problem with the place of remand.
“I urge your honour to balance the interest of the defendant and order the remand of the defendant where we will have access to him,” Kembi said.
Ruling on the submission of both counsel, Magistrate Tanimola ruled that the defendant be remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
“I have listened to the objection of the defence on custody, the defendant is hereby remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for the first 30 days, pending the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutiond”, she said.
She adjourned the case till September 4, 2025, for DPP’s advice.
