His Honour, L. A. Owolabi of the Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba, Lagos has again ordered the remand of Alhaji Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi, popularly known as Hammed Ajiran for another 10 days following the failure of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to render its legal advice as earlier directed by the court.
Recall that Alhaji Hammed was initially arraigned before Mr Owolabi of Court 3, Ogba, Lagos on May 22, 2026 on charges bordering on conspiracy to commit Murder, Membership of an unlawful society, threat of violence, assault, and other related offences, charges which Alhaji Hammed pleaded not guilty on all counts.
At the commencement of proceedings, the lead counsel to the defendant, Adedotun Ajulo, Esq. presented a Summons for Bail applied on behalf of his client. Ajulo, Esq. argued the However, the court declined the application, citing the need for a supplementary legal advice from the DPP in view of fresh facts and evidence that allegedly emerged from subsequent investigations conducted by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.
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At the last adjourned sitting, the court had directed the DPP to file its legal advice within 10 days.
However, when the matter came up today, 4 June 2026, the DPP’s Advice was yet to be rendered.
During the proceedings today, 4 June 2026, counsel to the Defendant, A. O. Ajulo, Esq. informed the court that he had filed bail application on behalf of his client who collapsed after the proceedings of 22 May 2026 and have been receiving medical treatment at a police medical facility.
While addressing the Court, the Police prosecutor, A. O. Nwabuisi, Esq. confirmed that the Police had complied with the earlier Order of Court by dispatching the Defendant’s duplicate case file to the DPP. Mr. Nwabuisi also confirmed to the Court that the Defendant has been receiving medical treatment at the Police facility and left the bail to the discretion of the Court.
Although Ms. A. Munir who represented the DPP confirmed that the DPP is in receipt of the duplicate case file, she informed the court that the DPP’s advice is not ready but undertook that the said advice will be ready before the next adjourned date. She also informed the court that the DPP will study the Defendant’s bail application and respond before the next adjourned date.
Mr. Ajulo urged the court to allow the remain in police custody pending the short adjournment period. The court subsequently adjourned the matter for another 10 days and ordered that the defendant remain in custody pending the DPP’s advice. In view of the forgoing, the Court ordered the Defendant to be returned to SCID panti until the next adjourned date.
In a dramatic turn of events, members of the Ajiran community gathered at the court premises in a show of solidarity for Hammed Akanbi. The supporters displayed banners and placards calling for his release and insisting on his innocence.
According to the sympathizers, the prosecution of Hammed is allegedly connected to an ongoing land dispute rather than a genuine murder case. They claimed that certain influential individuals and state actors have vested interests in community land and are using the criminal process to target the defendant.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, a community representative, Mr. Gbenga Gbenga, alleged that members of the community are aware of those behind what he described as the defendant’s current ordeal. He maintained that the community would continue to pursue lawful means to seek justice and ensure that the truth emerges.
The case has been adjourned to 16 June 2026 for report of the DPP’s legal advice.
