A Lagos State Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba has ordered the remand of 44-year-old Wasiu Akinwande, popularly known as Olori Esho, at the Kirikiri Correctional Center over multiple murder allegations.
Presiding Magistrate, Mobolaji Tanimola, gave the order on Tuesday, directing that the suspect be held for an initial period of 30 days, pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Akinwande faces an 11-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force, including conspiracy, multiple counts of murder, attempted murder, unlawful possession of firearms, membership of an unlawful society, possession of a poisonous dagger, causing grievous bodily harm, threats to life, and unlawful possession of multiple passports and dangerous weapons.
He was arrested on June 20, 2025, in the Alagbado area of Lagos, where he had been hiding.
According to police prosecutor Nosa Uhumwangho, the offences were allegedly committed between December 9, 2010, and April 5, 2025, across various locations in Lagos, including Mushin, Idi-Araba, Surulere, and Fadeyi.
The court heard that Esho, while unlawfully in possession of an AK-47 rifle, allegedly shot and killed 30-year-old Yusuf Bolakale and 23-year-old Yusuf Ramadan at No. 11 Mosalashi Street, Mushin.
He reportedly fled to Alagbado afterward, where he was eventually arrested.
Uhumwangho also alleged that on December 9, 2010, at Tiamiyu Street in Fadeyi, Esho shot and killed a 10-year-old girl, Aminat Lateef, while she was running an errand.
On July 31, 2024, during a violent clash between rival cult groups in Idi-Araba, the defendant allegedly killed six more people identified as Anyila, Ojajo, and four others.
The police further stated that the defendant was caught in unlawful possession of a large cache of arms, including a K2 assault rifle, two AK-47 rifles, two locally made single-barrel pistols, 70 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 57 live cartridges, three walkie-talkies, and a poisonous dagger—all of which he could not account for.
Esho was also accused of attempting to murder a 58-year-old woman, Awawu Ajalara, by shooting both her legs with an AK-47 on February 17, 2011, leaving her permanently disabled.
On April 5, 2025, Esho allegedly stormed a residence at No. 4 Gbadamosi Close, Surulere, around 1:30 a.m., tied up one Mohammad Ali, and threatened him while demanding the location of his employer, identified only as Sego.
The prosecution alleged that Esho had been a menace in the Mushin area from 2009 to 2025, brandishing weapons publicly, seizing land through threats and force, and engaging in other violent acts.
He was also found with numerous stolen passports belonging to Nigerian and foreign nationals from countries including the Republic of Guinea Bissau, Republic of Guinea, and the Republic of Cameroon.
Those identified include Ganiyu Faliat Blessing, Alade Sikiru, Pichama Betrran Mbeghe, Jubisa Aruna Damaris, Agbo Lucia Eta, Yougouda Assiatou, Forchit Victory Muyang, Dr. Mashood Aladipo Haroona, Marcel Nguty Muda, Ojo Odunayo Idowu, Akinwande Wasiu Olufemi, Haroona Ladi O.M, and Aristide Nyuyki.
The offences contravene several provisions of the Lagos State Criminal Law 2015, the Firearms Act of the Federation 2004 (as amended), and the Lagos State Property Protection Law 2016.
Although the defendant’s plea was not taken, Prosecutor Uhumwangho submitted a remand application under Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015. He initially requested that the defendant be kept in police custody due to ongoing investigations, including matters relating to 13 passports with valid visas and firearms recovered.
However, defence counsel Adejare Kembi opposed remand in police custody, citing lack of access to his client since the arrest.
Magistrate Tanimola ruled in favour of the defence’s request for accessibility, ordering Esho’s remand at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.
“The defendant is hereby remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for the first 30 days, pending the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions,” she ruled.
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The case was adjourned to September 4, 2025, for DPP’s advice.
