By DEBORAH AKPEDE

An Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, on Tuesday, remanded a 55-year-old National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) official, Samsideen Oladiti, also known as “Shameleon”.

Oladiti was accused of beating a tricyclist to death. Magistrate A. O. Akinde ordered that he be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility pending further advice.

Akinde directed that the case file be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for advice. She adjourned the matter until Oct. 28.

The defendant Is facing a three-count charge bordering on assault and murder. The charges were read before the court, but his plea was not taken.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, SP Anthony Iyeye, said the defendant committed the offences on 27 August at about 10 a.m. at Lewis Street, Lagos Island.

Iyeye alleged that Oladiti assaulted a tricyclist, Imam Ramon, causing injuries which later led to his death at the Lagos Island General Hospital, Marina.

He further told the court that, on 17 Sept. 17, the defendant also attacked a dispatch rider, Mr Omale Samuel, inflicting serious bodily harm.

Samuel was taken to hospital, where he remains on admission. The prosecutor said the defendant’s actions showed a pattern of violence against innocent citizens.

Iyeye said the offences contravened Section 223 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015, which prescribes the death penalty for murder upon conviction.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that investigations are continuing, while the court awaits the DPP’s legal advice on how to proceed. (NAN)