Man to die by hanging over killing of 7 DSS officers in Lagos

<p>Justice Hakeem Oshodi of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, on Tuesday sentenced one Clement Ododomu to death by hanging over the killing of Department of State Services, DSS, officers.</p>, <p>The judge also sentenced one Tiwei Monday to 16 years in a correctional centre.</p>, <p>Justice Oshodi said he delivered the judgement after considering the facts before the court and the demeanor of the convicts, which he termed as ‘unremorseful’.</p>, <p>The judge said that the allocutus by the Defence Counsel, Mr Olusegun Akande, who had on Oct. 11, prayed the court to temper justice with mercy, was replied by the Director, Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins.</p>, <p>The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convicts, who are vandals, were arraigned for killing seven officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the Ikorodu area of the state.</p>, <p>Justice Oshodi said that Martins had told the court that the offences by the defendants were grave and that the court should apply the maximum sentences available.</p>, <p>The judge said: “The court has considered the allocutus of the defence counsel, but the position of the law is binding to us all. As noted, the first defendant was convicted on counts one, five, seven, nine and ten, while the second defendant was convicted on counts one and ten.</p>, <p>“This is as contained in the information filed dated January 13, 2017. The provisions of this sections of the law are as follows:</p>, <p>“Count I, the count convicted the first and second defendants on the count –</p>, <p>“This count is brought contrary to Section 233 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, liable to a conviction of 14 years.</p>, <p>“On counts five and seven, the first defendant on these counts, which is contrary to Section 233 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015, provides that any one who commits murder shall be sentenced to death.”</p>, <p>According to Justice Oshodi, on count nine, the first defendant is brought under Section 298 (3) of the Criminal Laws