Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Igbosere has fixed June 22, 2026, for judgment in the trial of 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, Lagos, following a dispute over a N100
transportation
fare balance with a commercial motorcyclist.
The 37-year-old
was reportedly attacked by a mob and set ablaze during the incident.
The defendants —
Dahiru 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, preferred by the Lagos State Government.
At the resumed
proceedings, the court granted applications by defence counsel seeking
extension of time to regularise their final written addresses, which
had been filed
out of time.
Counsel for the
first defendant, A.O. Idowu, told the court that his client’s address, dated
April 17, 2026, urged the court to dismiss the prosecution’s
case and acquit
him.
Similarly,
counsel for the second defendant, Steven Eluwa, said his address, dated
February 16, 2026, asked the court to discharge and acquit his client
on the grounds
that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt.
“In response to
the prosecution’s address, we filed a reply on points of law dated May 4, 2026.
We urge the court to discharge and acquit the second defendant,”
he said.
Counsel for the
third defendant, Sylvester Effiong, whose address was filed on March 30, 2026,
also urged the court to resolve all issues in favour of
his client and
discharge her.
Olayinka Lawal,
counsel for the fourth defendant, argued that evidence before the court showed
that some defendants testified they did not see his client
at the scene of
the crime.
He also
challenged the prosecution’s claim that all defendants made confessional
statements, adding that the police failed to investigate his client’s
alibi.
“When the fourth
defendant was arrested, he stated that he was with one Mr Elias, but neither
the police nor the prosecution investigated that claim,”
Lawal submitted.
Counsel for the
fifth defendant, Yusuf Temilola-Nurudeen, argued that none of the prosecution’s
six witnesses directly implicated his client in the alleged
offences.
“The video
evidence tendered by the prosecution did not feature the fifth defendant. The
only allegation is that he took active part, but in what exactly?”
he said, urging
the court to acquit him.
He also asked
the court to expunge parts of the testimony of the fourth prosecution witness.
Counsel for the
sixth defendant, A.O. Olayinka, urged the court to deem her address, dated
March 3, 2026, as properly filed and to discharge and acquit
her client.
In response, the
Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Bajide Martins, urged the court to convict
the defendants, submitting that the evidence before the
court
established their involvement in the mob attack.
“My Lord saw the
witnesses and observed their demeanour,” he said.
After hearing
the submissions, Justice Harrison adjourned judgment until June 22, 2026.
At the
arraignment, the prosecution had alleged that the defendants unlawfully caused
Imoh’s death by beating him and setting him ablaze.
They were also
accused of attempting to murder Frank Olatunji and keyboardist Philip Balogun,
who were reportedly assaulted during the incident.
All six
defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the
trial, Balogun, one of the victims, told the court that he sustained injuries
to his head and ear and was hospitalised for five days at the
Federal Medical
Centre, Yaba, and Evercare Hospital.
He added that he
is still receiving eye treatment in Ikeja.
The witness
identified the second defendant as one of his attackers and alleged that the
third defendant, Susan Moses, pointed out where Imoh was hiding
before he was
dragged out and attacked.
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