A popular motor union leader Mukaila Lamidi (a.k.a Auxiliary) was yesterday arraigned before an Ibadan Magistrate’s Court at Oyo State for alleged murder.

Auxiliary, a factional leader of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Oyo State, was arrested last month with fire arms.

Lamidi and former NURTW Chairman Lateef Oloruntoki (a.k.a. Tokyo) have been on the police wanted list since June 4, 2011. A N500,000 bounty placed was on their heads, for the alleged murder of the National President of the Nigeria Medical Students Association, Bala Usman Shanono of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria in Kaduna State and others.

The late Shanono and some other travellers were killed at Iwo Road in Ibadan during a clash between Auxiliary’s and Tokyo’s factions.

Many others were injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

Auxiliary’s counsel, Olumuyiwa Fatiregun, said his client’s arrest and arraignment were politically motivated to keep him out of circulation as the 2015 general elections approach.

Fatiregun said: “It is an attempt by the government of the day to frustrate him. He has been in detention for the past seven weeks. There is no prima facie case against him. They are just holding him there to keep him out of circulation.”

Auxiliary was arraigned on a two-count charge.

The charge reads: “That you Auxiliary, with others at large, on March 2, 2014, at about 2210 hrs, at Mustard Filling Station, Iwo Road, Ibadan Magisterial District, did conspire with others at large to commit felony to wit; murder and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol.11 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000.

“That you, Mukaila Lamidi ‘M’ (a.k.a Auxiliary), and others at large on the same date, time, place and at the aforementioned Magisterial District did cause the death of one Adekunle Oladipupo ‘M’ by shooting him with a gun and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. II Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000.”

Magistrate O. K. Omotosho remanded Auxiliary at Agodi Prison and adjourned the case till June 18.

•Credit (except for amended headline): The Nation. Photo shows Auxiliary being escorted to court by security men . . . yesterday in Ibadan.

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