A suspected notorious assassin, Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Eso, has been arraigned before the Ogba Magistrate Court in Lagos on 11 counts, including murder, unlawful possession of firearms, and felony.
This was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Tuesday.
The 44-year-old suspect, described by the police as the “most wanted vicious and notorious hired killer,” was apprehended in a tactical operation named ‘Silence, Speed and Surprise’, carried out by the Command’s Tactical Squad at his hideout in Agbado, Ogun State.
According to Hundeyin, the suspect had long been terrorising Mushin and its environs, prompting the police to track him across state lines after previous efforts to arrest him failed.
Upon arrest, a large cache of weapons and incriminating items were recovered from Akinwande’s residence. The suspect reportedly confessed to using the items for his gang’s operations.
Hundeyin stated: “Wasiu Akinwande aka Olori Eso is currently being arraigned at the Ogba Magistrate Court on an eleven-count charge.”
He further disclosed that the charges include the alleged murder of Bankole Yusuf and Ramadan Yusuf on July 31, 2024, in Mushin, Lagos.
The court also heard that the suspect allegedly killed 10-year-old Aminat Lateef on December 9, 2010, in the Fadeyi area of the state.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Wasiu Akinwande, alias Olori Esho ‘m’ and others now at large, on or before the 31st day of July 2024, at Idi-araba area of Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did knowingly, unlawfully killed Ayinla ‘m’ surname unknown, Ojaja ‘m’ surname unknown and three other unknown persons (now deceased) by shooting them directly during a clash between your faction (known as unlawful society) with the AK 47 rifles in your possession and thereafter abscond to Alagbado area where you were tracked/arrested and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 223 of the Law, Ch., C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.”
Another count stated: “That you, Wasiu Akinwande, alias Olori Esho ‘m and others now at large, on the 31st day of July 2024, at No. 11, Mosalashi Street, Mushin, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully have in your possession K2 assault rifle with breach No. AR72739, Two AK-47 rifles with breach Nos. 0275 & 5688, Two locally made single barrel pistol, 70 rounds of 5.56 live ammunition, 27 round of 9mm live ammunition, 57 cartridges, three walkie talkies and One poisonous dagger, which you use for your unlawful activities in the society and you could not give a satisfactory account of how they came into your possession and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 27(1)(a)(b)(ii) of the Firearm Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 (as amended).”
He was also charged with the attempted murder of a 58-year-old woman, Awawu Ajalara, who was reportedly shot in both legs in 2011, allegedly causing permanent disability.
The charge reads: “That you, Wasiu Akinwande, alias Olori Esho ‘m’ and others now at large, on the 17th day of February 2011, at Awoniyi Street, Idi-Araba, Mushin – Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did attempt to kill one Awawu Ajalara ‘f’ aged 58 years by shooting at her both legs with AK47 rifle in your possession and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 230(a) of the Law, Ch., C17, Vol.3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.”
It further stated: “That you, Wasiu Akinwande, alias Olori Esho m and others now at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, did unlawfully cause grievous harm to one Awawu Ajalara ‘f’ aged 58 years by shooting at her both legs with AK47 rifle in your possession, which caused her permanent disability and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 245 of the Law, Ch., C17, Vol 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.”
Akinwande remains in police custody as the legal proceedings continue.
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