The Chief Magistrate Court of Lagos State sitting at Ikeja has ordered the immediate release of Abubakar Suleiman Mayaki, CEO of MYK Land and Properties Ltd, from custody, following a legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) which found no evidence linking him to the alleged murder charges.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, November 25, 2024, Magistrate Lateef Owolabi ordered that Mayaki “be and is hereby released from the custody of the correctional services forthwith,” effectively dismissing earlier allegations that had led to his remand.
This development contradicts an earlier report by naijnewsalert.com.ng which had claimed that the Lagos Magistrate Court indicted Mayaki on two count charges of murder and that he was remanded in Kirikiri prison for thirty days pending DPP legal advice.
According to the court’s ruling in Charge No: MIK/E/92/24 and CR/MISC/E/31/24, Mayaki was initially remanded on September 26, 2024, along with one Akande Ahmed Omogbemi, on a remand application by Adeoye Esq from the offices of the Honourable Attorney General of the state.
However, based on the advice of the DPP with reference number LJP/HOM/2024/119 dated November 12, 2024, Ashiwaju Esq informed the court that “the DPP opined that the aforementioned person be released as there was nothing to link him with the alleged offences.”
In his ruling, Magistrate Lateef Owolabi stated: “Based on the above and on the advice of the DPP, there is no reason to continue to detain the defendant in the custody of the correctional services. Accordingly, the defendant, Mr Mayaki be and is hereby released from the custody of the correctional services forthwith.”
The ruling was dated November 25, 2024, and signed by Magistrate Lateef Owolabi, with both prosecution counsel Ashiwaju Esq and defense counsel Uleyo I Esq present in court.
The case relates to the alleged murder of Kazeem Idowu, described as a hunter and staff member of Ikosi-Ejirin local government. According to earlier reports, Idowu had claimed in a video, while soaking in his pool of blood with his body riddled with bullets, that he was ambushed and attacked while on hunting activities in the Ota area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The Nigeria Police had initially docked four other suspects—Mukaila Salawu (known as Actor), Tiyamiyu Ahmed, Wasiu Suleimon, and Ibrahim Ekemode—before the magistrate in connection with the alleged murder, while declaring Omogbemi and Mayaki as being at large at the time.
The suspects were charged with conspiracy to commit robbery contrary to Section 299 of the Criminal Laws Cap. Ch.Vol.3 Laws of Lagos State, 2015, and unlawful killing contrary to Section 233 of the same law.
The ruling from the Chief Magistrate Court directly contradicts the earlier report which claimed that Mayaki had been “indicted” and remained in remand.
The court document shows that:
The DPP’s advice and the subsequent court order represent a significant development in the case. Under Nigerian law, the DPP has the constitutional power to review criminal cases and determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution.
The DPP’s finding that there was “nothing to link” Mayaki to the alleged offences effectively clears him of the murder allegations, at least based on the evidence available during the investigation period.
The court ruling mentions both Mayaki and Akande Ahmed Omogbemi as defendants in the case. However, the specific reference to Mayaki’s release suggests that the ruling may have applied specifically to him, though the full details of Omogbemi’s status were not explicitly stated in the portion of the ruling available.
The release order has significant implications:
With Mayaki’s release ordered by the court, attention will likely turn to the ongoing prosecution of the other four suspects who were initially arraigned in connection with the alleged murder of Kazeem Idowu.
As of the time of this report, the status of the case against the other defendants and any potential appeal or review of the DPP’s decision remains unclear.
