A 40-year-old Lagos herbalist, Kolawole Sikiru has been arrested for sneaking into Sabo Cemetery, Ikorodu and cutting off parts of a freshly buried corpse.
Sikiru who committed the offence at about 12.30a.m. on Dec. 4, 2021 was arraigned on a three count charge of forcible entry, misconduct with regards to corpse and receiving fraudulently obtained property before a Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Police prosecutor, Insp. Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that the defendant who resides in Ikorodu area of Lagos was apprehended with a locally made wooden knife and a nylon bag containing two human hands, a piece of human flesh and a human heart parts.
Olaluwoye said that it was the cemetery security guard that caught the Sikiru when he was climbing out of the cemetery through a fence with the human parts in his possession.
She said the alleged offences contravened Sections 52, 165 (a) (b) (c) and 328 (1) (2) {a} {b} of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 165 provides five years imprisonment for misconduct with regards to corpses, while section 328 stipulates 14 years imprisonment for receiving fraudulently obtained property.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs L.Y. Balogun, granted the Sikiru bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum.
Balogun said that the sureties must be gainfully employed, reside within the court jurisdiction and must produce evidence of three years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
She added that the sureties must have their addresses verified by the court and show a national proof of identification.
She adjourned the case until Feb. 9, for mention. (NAN)
