Court convicts two pipeline vandals for killing seven DSS operatives in Lagos

A high court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has convicted two pipeline vandals — Clement Ododomu and Tiwel Monday — for killing seven operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

In September 2015, seven DSS operatives were killed by suspected pipeline vandals in the Ikorodu area of Lagos state.

The suspects were said to have ambushed the officers at the Isawo axis of the area.

On Wednesday, Hakeem Oshodi, the trial judge, found the defendants guilty of a 10-count charge of murder and possession of firearms but deferred their sentencing until November 14.

Oshodi ruled that the prosecution team was able to prove that the two defendants participated in the ambush of the operatives.

The judge held that the claim by the defence team that the defendants were in Lagos for the funeral of their grandmother was a ploy.

He said the defence failed to present witnesses to corroborate the claim.

The judge ruled that the prosecution team failed to prove that the second defendant — Monday — was guilty of murder.

He added that the evidence showed that it was one Agbala and the first defendant (Ododomu) who killed the operatives.

“Upon proper evaluation of evidence before the court, the convicts are hereby discharged and acquitted on counts of two, three, four, six and eight because the prosecution was unable to prove the allegations against them,” the judge said.

“However, the prosecution was able to prove that the first defendant, Ododomu, is guilty of counts one, five, seven, nine and 10, which border on conspiracy to commit murder, murders, possession of firearms and felony.

“The second defendant, Monday, is also found guilty of counts one and 10, which border on conspiracy to commit murder and felony.”

The judge said the prosecution team proved that the two defendants participated in the ambush of the operatives.