COURT FIXES JUNE 22 FOR JUDGMENT IN LEKKI SOUND ENGINEER MURDER CASE

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Igbosere has fixed June 22, 2026, for judgment in the trial of a commercial motorcyclist, Dahiru Ayuba, and five others accused of killing sound engineer David Imoh.

The judge adjourned the matter on Tuesday after counsel for both the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses.

Imoh was allegedly lynched and burnt to death on May 12, 2022, at NITEL Junction Admiralty Way Lekki Phase 1 following a dispute over a N100 transport fare with a commercial motorcyclist. The 37-year-old was reportedly attacked by a mob and set ablaze.

The defendants — Ayuba, Susan Moses, Chigozie Anthony, Christopher Dauda, Joseph Tella and Sunday Azi — were arraigned on October 20, 2022, on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder and infliction of grievous harm by the Lagos State Government. All pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed hearing, defence counsel urged the court to discharge and acquit their clients, arguing that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Counsel to the first defendant, A.O. Idowu, asked the court to dismiss the charges, while counsel to the second defendant, Steven Eluwa, maintained that the prosecution had not sufficiently established guilt.

Other defence lawyers also challenged the credibility of the prosecution’s evidence, including alleged confessional statements and witness testimonies, insisting that their clients were not directly linked to the crime.

However, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Bajide Martins, urged the court to convict the defendants, stating that the evidence presented clearly established their involvement in the mob attack.

During the trial, a prosecution witness and survivor, Philip Balogun, recounted how he and others were attacked alongside the deceased, sustaining serious injuries that required hospitalisation.

After hearing all submissions, Justice Harrison adjourned the case for judgment on June 22, 2026.