A Lagos State High Court has sentenced three of the six defendants standing trial over the mob killing of Lagos-based sound engineer, David Sunday Imoh, popularly known as Dave Sound, to death by hanging.
The judgment was delivered on Tuesday by Justice I. O. Harrison of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.
The court found all six defendants guilty of different offences arising from the May 2022 attack, which led to the death of Imoh and the brutal assault of two of his colleagues.
Three of the defendants were convicted of conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and murder, and were sentenced to death by hanging.
Two others were convicted of conspiracy to murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm, and were sentenced to 11 years and two months imprisonment each.
The sixth defendant was convicted of inflicting grievous bodily harm and sentenced to five years and six months imprisonment.
The defendants, Dahiru Ayuba, Susan Moses, Chigozie Anthony, Christopher Dauda, Joseph Tella and Sunday Azi, were prosecuted by the Lagos State Government on a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy to murder, murder, attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm.
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, had alleged that the defendants unlawfully killed Imoh by beating him severely before setting him ablaze.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendants attempted to murder two other members of Legacy360 Band, saxophonist Francis Olatunji and keyboardist Philip Balogun, who were also attacked during the incident.
The case arose from one of Lagos State’s most shocking mob justice incidents, which sparked nationwide outrage in 2022.
Imoh, a sound engineer with Legacy360 Band, was attacked along Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, after a disagreement over a ₦100 balance with a commercial motorcycle rider allegedly escalated into mob violence.
According to accounts presented during the trial, Imoh and one of his colleagues had boarded a commercial motorcycle after a performance engagement.
On arriving at their destination, an argument reportedly broke out over the balance of the fare.
The disagreement allegedly attracted other commercial motorcycle riders and bystanders, who descended on the musicians.
Imoh was beaten and later set ablaze, while Olatunji and Balogun sustained serious injuries during the attack.
During the trial, Balogun testified that he, Olatunji and the late Imoh were attacked after the disagreement with the motorcycle rider escalated.
He told the court that he sustained severe injuries to his head and ear and spent several days receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Yaba, and Evercare Hospital.
Balogun also testified that one of the defendants assaulted them, while another pointed out where Imoh was hiding before the mob dragged him out and attacked him.
Following the killing, the Lagos State Police Command arrested and paraded suspects linked to the incident.
The Lagos State Government later arraigned the six defendants before the High Court.
The matter proceeded to full trial, with the prosecution calling witnesses and tendering evidence to establish the roles allegedly played by the defendants in the attack.
The killing attracted strong condemnation from civil society groups, entertainers and members of the public, many of whom demanded justice and called for an end to mob violence.
Legacy360 Band, where Imoh worked, had described the attack as a nightmare that left one of its members dead and two others hospitalised with life-threatening injuries.
After his death, Imoh’s family announced funeral arrangements in June 2022.
He was buried on June 3, 2022, after a service of songs held at the Church of God Mission International, Victoria Island Zonal Headquarters, Lagos.
Reports said emotional scenes followed Tuesday’s judgment after the first defendant, identified as the commercial motorcyclist at the centre of the incident, allegedly pulled out a razor blade and attempted to harm himself inside the courtroom.
A source who witnessed the proceedings said the convict allegedly slit his wrist and attempted to cut his throat moments after the court pronounced sentence.
Prison officials and police officers were said to have quickly intervened and overpowered him.
The trial judge reportedly directed that he be taken for medical treatment.
The judgment marks a major development in the quest for justice for Imoh, whose killing became a national symbol of the dangers of mob action and jungle justice.
