Judge Orders Remand of Accused Person Not Produced Before Court

 

Lagos, June 25, 2026 — Justice A.T. Muyideen of the Lagos State High Court on Thursday ordered the remand of Hammed Tajudeen Akanbi despite the accused person not being physically presented before the court.

Akanbi, who has reportedly been receiving treatment at the Police Hospital for more than 14 days due to a critical medical condition, was brought to the court premises in an ambulance and remained on oxygen support. Owing to his condition, he was unable to enter the courtroom.

When the matter was called, only the two other accused persons, Fatai Shafi and Yusuf Ismaila, were presented before the court. Despite being informed of Akanbi's medical condition and the fact that he remained in an ambulance outside the courtroom, Justice Muyideen ordered that he be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending his arraignment.

The court was also informed that the charge sheet, information and proof of evidence were served on Akanbi's legal team in court. It was further brought to the attention of the court that there was a subsisting order permitting Akanbi to remain in a police medical facility because of his health condition.

During proceedings, the judge reportedly asked medical personnel present in court whether Akanbi was dead and stated that only his death would prevent the court from remanding him in prison. A doctor who accompanied Akanbi from the Police Hospital was not allowed to address the court, while a medical report detailing the defendant's condition was not admitted.

The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Haroun Adebayo, urged the court to proceed with the remand application.

Justice Muyideen subsequently adjourned the matter until July 3, 2026, for arraignment.

In a dramatic twist, Akanbi was reportedly rejected by officials of the Ikoyi Correctional Centre upon arrival at the facility. Following an examination by the correctional facility's medical team, authorities declined to admit him, maintaining that his condition made him unfit for custody within the facility.

The development reportedly sparked a heated disagreement between police officers and correctional officials over responsibility for the defendant's custody. The correctional authorities stood by their decision not to admit him, while the police officers later left the facility.

As of the time of filing this report, Akanbi's whereabouts remained unknown.