From: Lukman Olabiyi
Controversy has continued to trail the decision of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-Bey advising that the charge of armed robbery leveled against a property developer, Felix Ezeamama, should be dropped.
Already, police authorities are worried that in spite of overwhelming evidence presented to the Office of Directorate of Public Prosecution, the charge of armed robbery and attempted murder against him, was jettisoned.
An Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos had, on Tuesday, May 30, ordered the remand of Ezeamama in prison over alleged armed robbery, attempted murder and unlawful damages.
Chief Magistrate Abimbola Komolafe gave the order following a remand application filed by the Officer in Charge, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Departing (SCIID) Panti Lagos, CSP Effiong Asuquo.
But, the DPP in her legal advice directed that Ezeamama should merely be charged for illegal demolition of the property, assault and stealing contrary to police investigation that he should be charged for armed robbery, attempted murder and willful and unlawful damage.
The DPP reportedly queried why the complainant, a retired civil servant will continue to reside inside a Federal government building four years after her retirement.
But, Police investigation revealed that the complianant was lawfully allocated Flats A and B of ‘Block A bungalow’ at 41 Alfred Rewane Road and had been living there before and after her retirement from the Federal Civil Service as a principal accountant.
Besides, Police had in their investigations informed the court that the suspect with others now at large, while armed with dangerous weapons, such as guns, cutlasses, sledge hammers and other dangerous weapons, invaded a property located at 41 Alfred Rewane Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, and demolished it.
Police had also revealed that in the course of demolishing the said property, the suspect attempted to kill one Alhaja Halima Abubakar (Mrs.), and her 91 years old mother, and also carted away £7000, $5000 and N5 million as well as some jewellery.
But, both the complaint and her legal team are wondering why the DPP decided to charge Ezeamama for a lesser offence despite overwhelming evidence provided by the police in its investigation.
According to the complainant, Halima Abubakar “where is justice in this matter, I could have lost my life and that of my 91 years old mother during the attack and yet the Justice ministry ignored all the facts provided by the police in its investigation.
Mrs. Abubakar said that she and her mother had to undergo knee surgery following the injuries they sustained during the attack.
“I am a retired civil servants and I retired as a principal accountant after 35 years of service. The property in dispute was allocated to me by the Federal government. Problem started when I refused to sell my two flats a property developer, Felix Ezeamama.
“I have been living here for more than 40 years along with other retired civil servants. While others sold their houses to Ezeamama, I refused to sell mine but he insisted that he must buy them”.
She stated that the dispute over the property was already a subject of litigation before Justice Wasiu Animahun of the Lagos high Court but the Ezeamama resulted into self help.
In a petition written by her lawyer to the Attorney-General, Lagos state, the victim urged the AG to take another look at the facts presented and ensure perpetrators of the heinous crime face the full wrath of the law.
The letter dated June 15 signed by Tomilola Taiwo, said ‘’we strongly disagree with the charges brought against the suspect (Felix Ezeamama) as we believe there is enough evidence to warrant the addition of the charges of conspiracy and attempted murder’’.